Rogers strikes on Chelsea debut as Blues edge Fulham; Roma dominate Fiorentina
Chelsea’s record signing Morgan Rogers scored on his debut to secure a 3-2 victory over Fulham for new manager Xabi Alonso, while Donyell Malen’s hat trick powered a 4-0 win for Roma.
Chelsea delivered a perfect Premier League opening for new manager Xabi Alonso with a 3-2 victory over Fulham on Monday. The result was secured in part by a goal from Morgan Rogers, who made his debut for the Blues after completing a club-record transfer from Aston Villa.
The 23-year-old England international midfielder arrived at Stamford Bridge for a reported £117m, a fee that surpassed the previous English player record of £116m and Chelsea’s prior benchmark of £107m set by Enzo Fernandez. Rogers signed a six-year contract with an option for a further year, a deal that was subject to a medical following his return from the 2026 World Cup.
The match, played in London, marked the start of the season for Alonso’s new tenure. While the specific details of the remaining goals in the 3-2 scoreline were not detailed in the initial reports, Rogers’ strike provided a significant early marker for the club’s most expensive signing to date.
In Italy, Roma began their Serie A campaign with a commanding 4-0 defeat of Fiorentina. The match, held in Rome, featured a standout performance from Donyell Malen, who scored a hat trick to drive the home side to a comprehensive victory.
The results underscored a strong start to the European football season, with both Chelsea and Roma securing wins in their respective leagues. For Chelsea, the victory serves as a foundational moment for Alonso’s managerial debut, while Roma’s performance highlighted the immediate impact of their attacking options.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the matches took place on Monday, 24 August 2026, coinciding with other fixtures across Europe, including a German cup match involving FC Schalke 04.
