NATIONAL TEAM - BENIN - COACH - Didier Olle-Nicolle appointed Benin coach

Frenchman Didier Olle-Nicolle has been appointed coach of Benin, replacing compatriot Manuel Amoros.

18 Mar 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - BENIN - COACH - Algerian Djamel Belmadi appointed Qatar coach

Algerian Djamel Belmadi has been installed as the new coach of Qatar's national team, the country's football association has revealed.  
 

17 Mar 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - Nigeria - Lukman Haruna hopeful over World Cup prospects

Dynamo Kiev midfielder Lukman Haruna hopes he can still make Nigeria's World Cup squad. The 23-year old has not played for the Super Eagles since the last World Cup in South Africa.

16 Mar 2014
FIFA rankings - Egypt makes big leap in latest rankings

Egypt have climbed up more places than any other African country in Fifa's latest world rankings for March.

14 Mar 2014
2014 World Cup - warm up - Ghana

Ghana Sports Minister Elvis Ankrah is confident the team will prepare in the right way for a successful World Cup.

12 Mar 2014
2014 World Cup - warm up - African sides ready

All five of Africa's World Cup finalists are in action this week as they continue their preparations for this summer's tournament in Brazil.
(Algeria; Cameroon; Ghana; Côte d'Ivoire; Nigeria)

5 Mar 2014
stars in Europe - Yaya Toure's incredible journey

He won the Champions League and two La Liga titles while with Barca. Toure also won league titles in Greece and England, and domestic cups in each country too. According to the people who know him best, Yaya Toure always had the ability and ambition he needed to make his journey from a barefooted boy footballer to one of the best players in the world. 

22 Feb 2014
stars in Europe - AC Milan set to sign Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien

Chelsea have agreed a deal with AC Milan to sell midfielder Michael Essien to the Italian side. Essien has flown in for talks and a medical with Clarence Seedorf's underachieving Serie A club.

25 Jan 2014

Stars in Europe - England - Keyplayer - Transfer - Rogers moves to Chelsea

Morgan Rogers

Rogers' journey started at Manchester City before a £8m (rising to £15m) move from Middlesbrough to Villa in February 2024. A sell-on clause means Boro pocket at least £20.4m from this deal, reportedly an English record for a sell-on fee. Not bad business at all.

 

Rogers' journey started at Manchester City before a £8m (rising to £15m) move from Middlesbrough to Villa in February 2024. 

The Details

Chelsea have agreed a club-record £117m deal to sign an England midfielder from Aston Villa. The 23-year-old will put pen to paper on a six-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with a club option for a seventh season.

Breaking the Bank

This isn't just a Chelsea record; it's now the most expensive transfer for an English player. Rogers' £117m fee edges past the £116m Manchester City paid Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson earlier this summer, and blows past Chelsea's previous ceiling: the £107m spent on Enzo Fernández back in 2023.

The Alonso Rebuild

The move lands as new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso reshapes his squad ahead of the new Premier League campaign, a statement signing to match his ambitions at the Bridge.

The Villa Numbers

21 goals in 85 league appearances. A Europa League winner last season under Unai Emery. 22 England caps, one goal, and seven appearances at this summer's World Cup. Rogers leaves Villa Park as one of the Premier League's most in-form young midfielders.

The Bigger Picture

Rogers is the second Villa midfielder out the door this week, following Youri Tielemans' £35m switch to Manchester United. Emery's rebuild job just got a whole lot bigger.

The Closer

Record fee, six-year commitment, one statement of intent from Stamford Bridge. Chelsea aren't just spending. They're building.

 

6 Sep 2026
afrofootball

Related countries

Related articles