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

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

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

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

McGinn has been blown away with the performances of the youngster, who has also become an England international.

The Scotland international 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 recruiting his services, but the club have held on to him and 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 penning a six-year extension in November 2024, five days after making his England debut.

Villa have to retain his services for as long as possible if they are serious about winning major silverware anytime soon.

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

Emery dreams of winning the Europa League this term having won it four times since becoming a manager, and he will need the likes of Rogers and McGinn on top form to have a chance of doing so.