It’s no exaggeration to say that Aston Villa hit the absolute jackpot when they paid an initial fee of £8m to sign Morgan Rodgers from Middlesbrough in early 2024.
The England international, who will be playing for his country at next month’s World Cup, finished the 2025/26 campaign with 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
This is his second consecutive season with at least 10 goals and 10 assists each, after scoring 14 goals and 13 assists in 2024/25.
Rodgers proved he can regularly make an impact at the top end of the pitch against Unai Emery, leading his team to Champions League victory and the Europa League trophy this season.
However, the immediate challenge for the Villans is to keep him around beyond the summer transfer window, with Manchester United and Arsenal keen to sign him.
Aston Villa aim to sign English playmaker
Losing Rodgers, who scored and provided an assist in the Europa League final against Freiburg, will be a big blow for Villa heading into next season.
However, Emery and his recruitment team will be looking at potential signings in the off-season who could join the club as the next version of Rodgers.
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are one of a number of clubs looking to sign Ethan Nwaneri from Arsenal in the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to the newspaper, teams such as Como, Newcastle United and Everton are eyeing the 19-year-old’s talent, with all of them hoping for a permanent transfer in the hope of his success.
The left-footed star also added that he is concerned about what his game time will look like for the Gunners in 2026/27, which could open the door for a summer exit from the Emirates.
However, TEAMtalk has not revealed whether Arsenal are prepared to grant him a permanent transfer or how much they would like to pay if they decide to let him go.
How Ethan Nwaneri could become Aston Villa’s new Morgan Rodgers
One of the reasons Villa’s success with Rodgers is so impressive is that he didn’t look like an elite talent on paper when he joined the club.
The attacking midfielder was released to Manchester City and although he only managed two goals and six assists in 26 games in the Championship, the Villans recognized his potential and developed it brilliantly.
Nwaneri currently finds himself in a similar position at Arsenal, having finished the season with three goals and one assist in all competitions, but his par-90 figures in Ligue 1 suggest he could be a great signing.
25/26 Ligue 1 | See you in 90 | Rank vs AM |
|---|---|---|
the goal | 0.56 | Top 9% |
xG on target | 0.39 | Top 19% |
Shah | 0.26 | Top 12% |
assist | 0.28 | Top 17% |
successful cross | 1.12 | Top 25% |
Pass accuracy | 88% | Top 10% |
The 19-year-old ace has scored two goals and provided one assist in nine Ligue 1 games since joining Marseille on loan in the second half of the season.
Joe Cole once described him as “the most exciting footballer in England and perhaps Europe”, but with so much still to develop at such a young age, now could be the perfect time for Villa to pounce.
Nwaneri, like Rodgers before his time at the club, has yet to show consistency in the final third throughout the season, but he has shown plenty of encouraging signs.
The England Under-21 international ended the 2024/25 season with a successful comeback for Arsenal, scoring nine goals in 37 games across all competitions. That includes four goals in 11 starts in the Premier League.
This shows he has the quality to make an impact in the Premier League and other major competitions with top teams, but his next step is to deliver consistent performances.
Given Rodgers’ career at Villa Park, Emery has proven he can get the best out of young players with potential, and Nwaneri could be his next project.
Villa must therefore strive to sign the teenage maestro permanently. He could become the club’s next Rodgers, softening the blow of the England international’s potential departure.
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He is a remarkable person…
