Fakayejo Paul
The crowning moment of a stratospheric European campaign is complete. Following Aston Villa’s dominant 3-0 demolition of SC Freiburg in Istanbul on Wednesday night to lift the trophy, UEFA’s Technical Observer Group has officially named Morgan Rogers as the 2025/26 Europa League Player of the Season.
The 23-year-old forward capsuled his spectacular tournament on the grandest stage at Beşiktaş Park, turning in a masterful one-goal, one-assist performance in the final to seal Unai Emery’s historic fifth Europa League crown and break Villa’s 30-year major trophy drought.
The Campaign in Numbers: Rogers’ European Masterclass
Rogers was the creative engine behind Villa’s fluid, counter-pressing machine all season. Stepping into the continental spotlight with absolute composure, his metrics across the tournament speak for themselves:
Appearances: 15
Goals: 3
Assists: 5
The Final Capper: In Istanbul, Rogers delivered the precise assist for Youri Tielemans’ crucial 41st-minute opening breakthrough, before completely killing off the match in the 58th minute by drilling home Villa’s third goal.
UEFA’s technical panel praised Rogers’ unique blend of physical power, close control, and vertical ball-carrying, which consistently unpicked defensive low-blocks from the league phase right through to the knockout stages.
Villa Dominate the Team of the Season
Rogers’ individual accolade spearheaded a massive evening of recognition for the West Midlands club, with UEFA also unveiling their official 2025/26 Europa League Team of the Season. Four Villa pillars anchored the XI alongside stars from tournament surprise packages.
In goal, Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez claimed the top spot.
The defensive backline features Braga’s Víctor Gómez, Nottingham Forest’s Morato, SC Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter, and Celta Vigo’s Óscar Mingueza.
The midfield engine room is powered by Villa’s tournament MVP Morgan Rogers and skipper John McGinn, lining up alongside SC Freiburg’s Max Eggestein and Real Betis’s Antony.
Up front, the clinical attack is led by Villa’s Emiliano Buendía and Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus.
The tournament also handed out its secondary individual honor, naming Freiburg’s 20-year-old breakout midfielder Johan Manzambi as the Europa League Revelation of the Season.
From Middlesbrough to European Royalty
Rogers’ rise remains one of the most rapid developmental arcs in modern English football. Arriving at Villa Park from Middlesbrough in January 2024 for a modest £8 million, he has evolved from a raw, high-potential prospect into a certified elite European talisman under Emery’s meticulous guidance.
With a Europa League trophy in his cabinet, a Player of the Season award on his mantle, and Champions League football secured for Villa next term, Rogers has officially established himself as one of the most formidable young attackers in the world.