John McGinn was not impressed when Morgan Rogers was signed but he now sees him as an Aston Villa star | OneFootball

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn has revealed that he was initially not impressed when Morgan Rogers was signed in 2024.

Manager Unai Emery brought the 23-year-old attacker to Villa Park in a £15 million deal from Middlesbrough on the winter transfer deadline day last year.

Rogers has hit the ground running since joining the Villans, and was named the PFA Young Player of the Year for 2024-25 last month.

McGinn has been blown away by Rogers, who has also become an England international.

He believes Rogers is now Villa’s star player, admitting Emery saw something in him that he did not.

Rogers was in fine form last term for the Midlands club, notching 14 goals and 15 assists in 54 games across all competitions.

The reigning Aston Villa Young Player of the Season and The Athletic Premier League Young Player of the Season was linked with an exit during the summer transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur were reportedly keen on signing him, but Villa are looking to hand him a new deal.

Discussions are in preliminary stages as Rogers still has five years left on his current contract after signing a six-year extension in November 2024, five days after making his England debut.

He has the potential to become one of the best players in the Premier League, and his recent growth is commendable.

Emery dreams of winning the Europa League again this term, and he will need Rogers and McGinn on top form to have a chance of doing so.