Aston Villa's 22-year-old star, Morgan Rogers, has been handed his first-ever call-up to England’s senior squad. The young star, who has been making waves in the Premier League and Champions League, will join Lee Carsley’s national team for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
This career milestone not only marks a significant moment for Rogers but also triggers a payment clause in his transfer deal from Middlesbrough as per The Northern Echo.
The transfer deal and its financial impact
Rogers made the move to Villa Park in January for an initial fee of £8 million, with the potential for the price to rise to £15 million based on various add-ons. One such clause, related to his first senior England call-up, has now been activated. This means Middlesbrough will receive an additional payment from Villa, adding to the bonus they already received when Aston Villa secured a spot in the Champions League.
Since joining Villa, Rogers has proven to be a smart investment. He has started all 15 matches he has been available for this season, contributing three goals and three assists across Premier League and Champions League competitions.
These performances have been pivotal to Villa’s success, and the incremental transfer fee now seems like a worthy price for a player of Rogers' calibre.
Rogers' rapid growth from Middlesbrough to Villa
Before his move to Villa, Rogers was making a name for himself at Middlesbrough. The attacking midfielder joined the Championship club from Manchester City for a modest £1 million fee, but his impact was anything but small. In just six months, he managed to net seven goals and provide nine assists, helping Middlesbrough reach the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.
Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough’s manager at the time, had high praise for Rogers and predicted his potential rise to international football earlier this season. Carrick has remained in contact with the young Englishman, and his prediction has now come to fruition with Rogers’ England call-up. This rapid progression highlights Rogers' exceptional development in a short amount of time.
England squad sees major changes
Rogers' call-up comes at a time of significant reshuffling within the England squad. Eight players, including some of the nation’s top names like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and Bukayo Saka, have withdrawn due to injuries. In response, manager Lee Carsley has brought in several replacements, with Rogers being joined by Jarrod Bowen, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Trafford, and Tino Livramento.
England has a crucial Nations League match against group leaders Greece on Thursday. The Three Lions are currently three points behind Greece in their League B group, making this an important fixture.
After that, the team will return to Wembley for a Sunday showdown with the Republic of Ireland, where Rogers could potentially make his international debut.
For Aston Villa, while the additional payment to Middlesbrough adds to their financial outlay, Rogers’ performances so far suggest he’s worth every penny. His rapid rise from a promising player at Middlesbrough to an England international and key figure in Villa’s squad underlines the value of their investment.