Prince William's team replaces $132 million sale with controversial new signing

Sian JonesSat, July 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC

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Prince William's Aston Villa has made a controversial new signing (Image: Getty)

Aston Villa has moved quickly to replace the midfielder it sold for $132 million with a controversial new signing.

Chelsea has completed the signing of England midfielder Morgan Rogers from the Birmingham-based club in a British-record transfer, making him the most expensive English homegrown player in history. Aston Villa, which is supported by Prince William, has now lost one of its prized assets.

Rogers returned from the United States after representing England at the World Cup to undergo a medical in London before signing a six-year contract, with the Blues holding an option to extend the deal by a further year.

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Villa had long maintained that its prized asset would only be sold for a record-breaking fee, with Arsenal widely tipped as the favorite to secure his signature. However, Chelsea had been monitoring Rogers for more than two years and identified him as its leading attacking target.

The Blues accelerated negotiations following England's World Cup semifinal defeat to Argentina last Wednesday, waiting until the tournament had ended to avoid disrupting the midfielder's focus on international duty.

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Morgan Rogers' move to Chelsea made him the most expensive English player in history (Image: Getty)Controversial replacement

Villa has secured a loan deal for Chelsea forward Alejandro Garnacho, including a conditional obligation to buy. Chelsea had previously been pushing for a permanent deal for the Argentina international, but Villa's interest emerged as it looks to help revive Garnacho's career under Unai Emery.

The Villa boss is believed to be a long-term admirer of the winger and hopes to play a key role in his return to form. Garnacho is considered a controversial signing due to the circumstances surrounding his Manchester United exit and the uncertainty over his future. Despite showing flashes of his talent, the winger has faced criticism for inconsistent performances.

Villa's pursuit comes just days after Chelsea's new head coach, Xabi Alonso, revealed he was open to allowing Garnacho to leave. He said: "Well, the situation is that we have spoken with the sporting directors. There is an interest for him from other clubs. So let's see how this develops. But hopefully, it finishes in the best possible way for other clubs."

Alejandro Garnacho is hoping to revitalize his career at Villa (Image: Getty)

It remains to be seen what the future King of England makes of the changes to the Villa squad. Prince William previously revealed that his decision to support Aston Villa came from a desire to avoid following the more popular clubs among his classmates.

The Prince of Wales explained that while many of his friends supported Manchester United or Chelsea, he wanted to choose a team that could provide more unpredictable highs and lows. He was drawn to Villa's history and the connection he felt with the club's supporters.

William also recalled attending the 2000 FA Cup tie between Bolton and Aston Villa, where he sat among Villa fans wearing a red beanie. Despite watching his side lose to Chelsea later in the competition, he said the atmosphere, camaraderie and passion of the supporters made him feel an immediate connection with the club.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”