One month, two record transfers – why England midfielders are needed

0 0 3 minutes read

One month, two record transfers – why England midfielders are needed

In less than a month, England duo Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers have broken the record of becoming the most expensive British player of all time.

Anderson’s £116m move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City came before Chelsea signed Rogers for £117m from Aston Villa.

Both are England midfielders, both working at a high level. Both are only 23 years old – in theory, years from their prime.

So why is England so strong in this area? Why are these pairs selling for such high prices?

And with Adam Wharton and Alex Scott among those attracting attention, what is it about England’s midfielders that makes them so desirable?

Anderson and Rogers are in form

At such a young age, both Roger and Anderson offer the potential to exist and become Premier League ready players.

Anderson arrives in Manchester having enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign and impressed at international level, starting all but one of England’s eight games as they finished third at the World Cup.

The midfielder has been a real engine for the Three Lions and proved that City are right to spend big to sign him.

For Forest last season, he was the bright spark in a difficult campaign, which spent much of the season battling defeat.

He recorded 3,300 touches in the top flight last season, more than any other player, and led the way in duels won (297), tackles won (306) and fouls won (80).

He also topped the charts for most passes completed by a middle linebacker (2,038) and led the position with 376 interceptions.

His four goals and four assists and creating 54 chances, including nine big chances, highlighted his expertise at both ends of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Rogers bagged 14 goals and 12 assists in 55 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa last season.

A versatile attacking midfielder, Rogers can play as a number 10 or out wide on the left wing, meaning his defensive stats don’t compare to Anderson’s, but going forward he has established himself as one of the most successful players on the continent.

Across Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks second among midfielders in the box for touches (181) and his 16 Premier League goals put him among the top 10 in Europe in this position.

Last season’s Premier League figures do not include Manchester City coach Rodri as he continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

But he is unlikely to return to the top of those charts next season after looking back on his World Cup success, winning the man of the match award after leading Spain to the title.

Who is next?

As the traditional number nine appears to be becoming a dying breed, clubs are turning to other positions to provide a goal threat.

That makes a midfielder, especially one with a bit of skill that opens up defences, a sought-after player.

England appear to have produced a number of players who fit that bill in the same period – although Tottenham spent £185m on midfielder duo Sandro Tonali from Italy and Matheus Fernandes from Portugal this summer.

With the Premier League’s home-grown rule in place – which requires at least eight places in the 25-man squad to be set aside for players produced in England or Wales – clubs are expected to pay a higher rate for players who have studied at the Football Association’s academies.

And as Anderson and Rogers get their moves, could Scott and Wharton follow?

Bournemouth have already rejected a £64m bid from Chelsea for midfielder Scott as they battle to hold on to the 22-year-old, who has enjoyed an impressive season on the south coast, particularly from January onwards.

Scott was named in his England first team last November and was called up to Thomas Tuchel’s extended pre-World Cup camp in Florida but has yet to feature at senior international level.

Crystal Palace midfielder Wharton has long been a target, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all registering an interest.

Both only 22 years of age, these highlight the wealth of English talent and power currently available in that position.

Although they may not be the best in the world right now, they are part of a group of players in their early 20s who are approaching their prime and will only move clubs for high prices.

Why this summer’s transfer fees aren’t as crazy as they seem

Analysis by football finance expert Kieran Maguire

Transfer fees keep breaking records, but compared to what clubs can afford, they don’t budge.

Back in 1992-93, the first Premier League season, the average club turned over £9.3m. The biggest signing of that summer, Alan Shearer, cost £3.3m – 35% of the average income.

Fast forward to 2024-25 – the latest season for which full accounts have been published – and average Premier League revenue has reached £342m – 35% of that is £121m, which is very close to what the clubs recently paid Anderson and Rogers.

The lesson: It’s not that clubs are crazy, but they can afford to pay more.