Three years before becoming Chelsea’s record £117m signing, Morgan Rogers was facing a very different reality. His market value had reportedly fallen to around £1m, and the talented youngster was beginning to wonder whether he would ever establish himself at the highest level.
Rogers’ journey from academy football to the Premier League was far from straightforward. The forward has described a series of difficult loan spells as an important part of his development, helping him discover what was required to succeed in professional football.
Bournemouth, who meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, were the first major setback. Rogers was sent there on loan while still a Manchester City player, before later spending time at Blackpool.
The experience was particularly frustrating for a player who had represented England at youth level and had been regarded as one of West Bromwich Albion’s brightest academy prospects.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official media channel, Rogers explained that those challenging periods taught him how to deal with setbacks and criticism.
Looking back on what his early EFL career taught him, he simply described it as “everything”.
He explained that he needed to leave his comfort zone and face new challenges to discover the type of player he could become.
Rogers also believes he is now a completely different footballer from the player who came through the academy.
The lessons learned during those loan spells changed his mentality.
He said his biggest takeaway was learning to focus on the things he could control rather than worrying about what other people thought of him.
From £9m prospect to £1m move
Former Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton, who coached Rogers during his first loan spell, believes there is valuable experience to be gained from every loan move.
Appleton already knew about Rogers’ potential from his time around West Brom’s academy and was determined to bring him to Lincoln City in League One.
Rogers arrived as an 18-year-old but quickly showed that he was not afraid to make his voice heard. He scored six goals and supplied two assists in 28 appearances during his spell at the club.
Appleton particularly remembers an away match against Portsmouth during Lincoln’s run towards the play-off final.
With Portsmouth possessing several physically imposing players, Lincoln were preparing for a difficult battle defending set pieces. Rogers volunteered to take responsibility for marking one of the opposition’s biggest players.
For Appleton, that moment demonstrated Rogers’ confidence and willingness to contribute defensively as well as offensively.
His next challenge came in the Championship with Bournemouth. However, he started only three matches and scored once under manager Scott Parker, whose side eventually secured promotion to the Premier League.
Rogers struggled to make a consistent impact.
Former scout Des Taylor, who helped bring him to Bournemouth, described him as a player who developed gradually. Taylor had already seen Rogers’ ability during his time at Lincoln but admitted that it was difficult to predict exactly what type of player he would become.
The Bournemouth spell also presented a tactical problem. Rogers had been viewed as a potential number 10, but Parker’s system did not regularly use that position.
As a result, Rogers found it difficult to establish himself and often struggled to get minutes in his preferred role.
Former Bournemouth team-mate Steve Cook believes the experience ultimately became another important part of Rogers’ development.
Bournemouth reportedly had the opportunity to sign him permanently for around £9m, but the move did not happen.
Instead of allowing the disappointment to derail his career, Rogers continued working and learning.
Cook believes Rogers’ character played a major role in his eventual rise, describing him as a positive and hardworking person who was willing to listen and improve.
Another setback at Blackpool
Rogers’ Bournemouth loan was eventually ended early, sending him back into academy football.
An injury then delayed his next opportunity until January, when he moved to Blackpool and reunited with Appleton.
However, the reunion lasted only briefly. Appleton was dismissed after two weeks and replaced by Mick McCarthy.
Rogers went on to make 20 appearances for Blackpool, either starting or coming off the bench, and scored once. The club ultimately suffered relegation to League One after going through three managers during the season.
Appleton admitted that the managerial change made the situation particularly difficult for Rogers.
The player had patiently waited for his injury recovery and finally reunited with a manager who knew him, only for that manager to lose his job almost immediately.
Despite receiving fewer opportunities than expected, Rogers handled the situation professionally.
For the youngster, however, the period was difficult.
He watched other players he had previously played alongside move ahead of him and receive opportunities at a higher level. At times, he questioned whether he would ever reach the level he had hoped for.
His family and close friends helped him maintain perspective.
One of those closest to him in football was Cole Palmer. While Palmer progressed directly into Manchester City’s first team and eventually joined Chelsea for £42.5m, Rogers took another route.
At the same time Palmer was establishing himself, Rogers moved to Middlesbrough in a deal reportedly worth only £1m.
Middlesbrough move changes everything
Rogers’ fortunes began to change at Middlesbrough.
A productive spell, including five goals and three assists during a six-match run to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, attracted significant attention.
His performances caught the eye of Aston Villa, where several coaches who had previously worked with Rogers at West Brom were now involved in senior academy roles.
Villa initially made an offer of around £8m during the winter transfer window.
By this stage, Rogers’ career trajectory had begun to change dramatically.
Palmer, meanwhile, had already earned an England call-up after producing regular goals and assists for Chelsea.
The contrast between the two close friends highlighted just how differently football careers can develop.
Appleton believes Rogers’ story is a perfect example of why young players should not assume that setbacks mean their careers are heading in the wrong direction.
Some players progress immediately. Others require several difficult experiences before finding the environment that allows their talent to flourish.
From overlooked youngster to Chelsea record signing
Rogers eventually transformed himself from a player whose value had fallen to around £1m into one of the most valuable young attacking talents in English football.
His journey included unsuccessful loan spells, limited opportunities, injuries, managerial changes and moments of genuine self-doubt.
Yet each setback helped him develop physically, tactically and mentally.
His performances eventually earned him a move to Aston Villa, where he continued his rapid progression before attracting Chelsea’s attention.
That journey ultimately culminated in a record-breaking £117m move to Stamford Bridge.
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Rogers’ rise is a reminder that there is rarely a straightforward route to the top of professional football.
From being valued at £9m, dropping to a reported £1m and enduring difficult loan spells, he has gone on to become Chelsea’s record signing.
His career shows how persistence, adaptability and the ability to learn from setbacks can completely change a player’s future.