ISTANBUL, Turkey – Fresh off a historic continental triumph, Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers has been officially named the UEFA Europa League Player of the Season.
Okay News reports that UEFA’s technical observer group announced the prestigious individual honor on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The accolade caps off a spectacular breakout campaign for the 23-year-old England international, who played a starring role in Villa’s commanding 3-0 victory over German side SC Freiburg in Wednesday night’s final.
Rogers proved to be the creative engine for Unai Emery’s squad throughout the continental tournament, racking up three goals and registering five assists across 15 appearances. Demonstrating incredible durability, the dynamic midfielder also logged 1,088 minutes on the pitch—more than any of his teammates. In Wednesday’s high-stakes final at the Tüpraş Stadyumu, Rogers anchored Villa’s dominant second-half display by setting up Youri Tielemans’ opening volley before sliding home a brilliant individual goal in the 58th minute to seal the club’s first major European silverware in 44 years.
The individual honor arrives at a career-defining moment for the young midfielder, who is widely expected to be named in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s upcoming World Cup squad on Friday. Reflecting Villa’s total dominance of the competition, Rogers was named to the official UEFA Europa League Team of the Season alongside three of his teammates: goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, club captain John McGinn, and fellow forward Emi Buendía. While Celta Vigo’s Jones El-Abdellaoui claimed the tournament’s “Goal of the Season” award for a spectacular volley against Ludogorets, UEFA’s technical panel voted Buendía’s thunderous strike and Tielemans’ opener in the final as the fifth and seventh best goals of the entire tournament, underlining a truly golden era for the Birmingham-based club.
