Chelsea has reached a verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign England international attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers in a British record transfer fee of KSh 20 billion (£117 million).

The 23-year-old player had preferred a move to Stamford Bridge over Arsenal, despite the Gunners identifying him as their top transfer target this summer.

This marks the second time Arsenal have lost a pursued player to a Premier League rival this window, following the departure of another key midfielder.

Rogers' decision to join Chelsea is attributed to new manager Xabi Alonso's long-term project and the club's ambition to compete at the highest level.

The deal adds to Chelsea's recent trend of expensive signings, reflecting their strategy to strengthen their squad ahead of European competitions.Arsenal, who had been actively pursuing Rogers, now face another setback in their summer recruitment plans.

The transfer highlights the intense competition among top-tier clubs for talented players and underscores the financial stakes involved in modern football transfers.