Arsenal face £100m bill for Villa star due to clause complication

Credit: Getty Images

Arsenal’s pursuit of Morgan Rogers could cost the club as much as £100m due to a significant sell-on clause that Middlesbrough negotiated when the player moved to Aston Villa.

The 23-year-old England international has emerged as a key target for the Gunners following his impressive performances in Villa’s Europa League triumph and their top-four Premier League finish this season.

Middlesbrough’s smart business

According to The Athletic, Middlesbrough inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause when Rogers joined Villa for £16m from the Riverside Stadium. This unusually high percentage – double the industry standard of 10 per cent – means Boro would receive a substantial windfall from any future sale.

Middlesbrough head of football Kieran Scott previously hinted at the lucrative nature of the deal, stating: “I won’t say what amount, but there’s a good sell-on for the club. It would end up being a great signing for someone who played for 5 and a half months for us.”

The 20 per cent clause would rival the fee that Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle received when Moises Caicedo completed his £100m move from Brighton to Chelsea.

Competition heating up

While Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have also shown interest in Rogers, Arsenal are reportedly in pole position to secure his signature. The player himself is understood to be open to a move to the Emirates Stadium, according to BBC reports.

However, Villa’s willingness to sell at the right price may be complicated by the financial implications of Middlesbrough’s sell-on clause, potentially pricing Arsenal out of a deal.

Mikel Arteta has demanded ambitious transfer activity following Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to PSG. Speaking to Rio Ferdinand, the manager emphasized: “We will start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level. And we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”

High-quality target

Rogers’ Villa teammate Ollie Watkins has praised the midfielder’s ability to create opportunities from difficult situations. “He’s a player that can create things from nothing, you know, he’s very talented. He’s always going to look forward, and he’s probably not going to just get the ball and play it backwards,” Watkins explained.

The complexity of the transfer fee structure will test Arsenal’s resolve as they look to strengthen their squad for another Champions League campaign. With Rogers keen on the move and Arsenal leading the race, negotiations promise to be intriguing as the summer window approaches.