The Blackburn Rovers first-team squad in the 2023/24 Championship season has 34 players at first-team head coach John Eustace’s disposal. The Ewood Park club’s senior side boasts four goalkeepers, 12 defenders, 12 midfielders and six forwards, including any away on loan.
Blackburn Rovers goalkeepers
Aynsley Pears
| Name: | Aynsley Alan William Pears |
| DOB: | 23/04/1998 |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | October 2020 |
| Joined From: | Middlesbrough |
| Kit number: | 1 |
Blackburn Rovers beat the transfer deadline to strengthen their first-team squad with a last-gasp move from Middlesbrough for Aynsley Pears. He left the Riverside club for Ewood Park in October 2020 to deputise for Thomas Kaminski before becoming their No1 over 2022/23.
Leopold Wahlstedt
| Name: | Leopold Wahlstedt |
| DOB: | 04/07/1999 |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | August 2023 |
| Joined From: | Odds Ballklubb |
| Kit number: | 12 |
Blackburn Rovers signed Leopold Wahlstedt from Norwegian team Odds Ballklubb in August 2023 after Thomas Kaminski moved to Luton Town. The goalkeeper had two seasons at the Skagerak Arena outfit and recorded 19 clean sheets during his 68 games in all competitions.
Joe Hilton
| Name: | Joseph Robert Hilton |
| DOB: | 11/10/1999 |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | July 2019 |
| Joined From: | Everton U23 |
| Kit number: | 34 |
Blackburn Rovers raided the youth set-up at Everton to sign Joe Hilton in July 2019. He quit the Merseyside natives after three years in search of senior minutes. His first-team debut at Ewood Park did not arrive until August 2023 when he started against Walsall in the EFL Cup.
Jordan Eastham (on loan to Hyde United)
| Name: | Jordan Eastham |
| DOB: | 08/09/2001 |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | June 2020 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 35 |
Jordan Eastham first joined the Blackburn Rovers first-team squad in June 2020 whilst still a regular for their academy teams. The goalkeeper joined the Lancashire natives as a 13-year-old boyhood Rovers fan. He got his first taste of senior football on loan with Lancaster City.
Blackburn Rovers defenders
Callum Brittain
| Name: | Callum Brittain |
| DOB: | 12/03/1998 |
| Position: | Right-back |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | July 2022 |
| Joined From: | Barnsley |
| Kit number: | 2 |
Jon Dahl Tomasson secured Callum Brittain as his first signing as the manager of Blackburn Rovers in July 2022. The defender headed for Ewood Park from Barnsley for an undisclosed fee after two years at Oakwell. He has since proven to be a valuable asset in their backline.
Harry Pickering
| Name: | Harry Leslie Pickering |
| DOB: | 29/12/1998 |
| Position: | Left-back |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | February 2021 |
| Joined From: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Kit number: | 3 |
Blackburn Rovers agreed on a last-gasp transfer from Crewe Alexandra for Harry Pickering in February 2021. The Ewood Park natives sanctioned an initial £650k fee for the full-back. But he only moved to Lancashire that summer after 167 first-team outings for his academy club.
Connor O’Riordan
| Name: | Connor Patrick O’Riordan |
| DOB: | 19/10/2003 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2024 |
| Joined From: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Kit number: | 4 |
Blackburn Rovers signed Connor O’Riordan off Crewe Alexandra in January 2024 for £500k after triggering his release clause. The defender caught the Lancashire club’s attention while in League Two. He scored three goals through 23 fourth-tier games in the first half of 23/24.
Dominic Hyam
| Name: | Dominic John Hyam |
| DOB: | 20/12/1995 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | August 2022 |
| Joined From: | Coventry City |
| Kit number: | 5 |
Dominic Hyam switched Coventry City for Blackburn Rovers close to the end of the summer sales in August 2022. He had enjoyed five seasons with the Sky Blues after leaving academy side Reading in July 2017. His first season for Rovers returned 42 games in all competitions.
Joe Rankin-Costello
| Name: | Joseph Scott Rankin-Costello |
| DOB: | 26/07/1999 |
| Position: | Right-back |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2017 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 11 |
Blackburn Rovers awarded Joseph Rankin-Costello his first professional contract in January 2017. Ewood Park chiefs sought to reward his progress after joining their academy in 2015 from Manchester United. He made his first-team debut in August 2019 at Sheffield United.
Billy Koumetio
| Name: | Billy Dawson Koumetio |
| DOB: | 14/11/2022 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2024 |
| Joined From: | Liverpool |
| Kit number: | 14 |
Liverpool agreed to let Billy Koumetio join Blackburn Rovers on loan for the rest of the term in January 2024. The defender had spent the first half of the season in France’s second-tier with USL Dunkerque. Koumetio has also featured twice in the Reds’ first-team squad to date.
Patrick Gamble
| Name: | Patrick Gamble |
| DOB: | 05/10/2003 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | June 2022 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 15 |
Blackburn Rovers awarded Patrick Gamble his first professional contract back in June 2022. The defender had been at Ewood Park since the Under-7s level and got his first-team debut in August 2023. Jon Dahl Tomasson started Gamble at Harrogate Town in an EFL Cup tie.
Scott Wharton
| Name: | Scott Bradley Wharton |
| DOB: | 03/10/1997 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | September 2015 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 16 |
Scott Wharton emerged out of the Blackburn Rovers academy to secure his first professional contract in September 2015. Owen Coyle also handed the defender his first-team debut in a Championship clash with Burton Albion in August 2016. He has since played over 75 games.
Hayden Carter
| Name: | Hayden James Carter |
| DOB: | 17/12/1999 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | February 2018 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 17 |
Blackburn Rovers awarded Hayden Carter his first professional contract in February 2018 to show a pathway into their first-team squad. The defender had been a part of their academy since the U14 level. He also captained Rovers’ U18 squad to the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals.
Sam Barnes
| Name: | Samuel Peter Barnes |
| DOB: | 10/03/2001 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | February 2019 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 26 |
Sam Barnes signed his first professional contract at Blackburn Rovers in February 2019 after impressing on loan with Marine FC. The defender only made his senior debut at Ewood Park in August 2023 against Walsall in the EFL Cup. He has been at Blackburn since the age of 11.
Ben Chrisene
| Name: | Benjamin Joshua Chrisene |
| DOB: | 12/01/2004 |
| Position: | Left-back |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2024 |
| Joined From: | Aston Villa |
| Kit number: | 45 |
Aston Villa agreed to loan Ben Chrisene to Blackburn in January 2024 to gain experience in a first-team squad. The left-back had previously spent the 22/23 term on loan for Kilmarnock. But the England youth international had only appeared once with the Villans’ senior squad.
Kyle McFadzean
| Name: | Kyle John McFadzean |
| DOB: | 20/02/1987 |
| Position: | Centre-half |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2024 |
| Joined From: | Coventry City |
| Kit number: | 55 |
Blackburn signed Kyle McFadzean from Coventry City in January 2024 to improve their first-team squad. The defender quit the Sky Blues after four-and-a-half-years, having made 171 appearances. He even regularly captained Coventry but fell out of favour during 2023/24.
Blackburn Rovers midfielders
Sondre Tronstad
| Name: | Sondre Bjorvand Tronstad |
| DOB: | 26/08/1995 |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | June 2023 |
| Joined From: | Vitesse Arnhem |
| Kit number: | 6 |
Blackburn Rovers took advantage of Sondre Tronstad quitting Vitesse Arnhem at the end of his contract in June 2023. The midfielder left the Dutch team after three-and-a-half seasons having appeared 114 times. He also registered nine goals and two assists at the GelreDome.
Arnor Sigurdsson
| Name: | Arnor Sigurdsson |
| DOB: | 15/05/1999 |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | June 2023 |
| Joined From: | CSKA Moscow |
| Kit number: | 7 |
Blackburn Rovers found an agreement with CSKA Moscow to hire Arnor Sigurdsson on loan for a season in June 2023. But the Iceland midfielder sustained a groin injury during Rovers’ pre-season travels in Austria. It ensured he missed the start of the campaign at Ewood Park.
Sammie Szmodics
| Name: | Samuel Joseph Szmodics |
| DOB: | 24/09/1995 |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | August 2022 |
| Joined From: | Peterborough United |
| Kit number: | 8 |
Peterborough United agreed to let Sammie Szmodics join Blackburn Rovers in August 2022 after two years at the club. The Republic of Ireland midfielder quickly established his role at Ewood Park under Jon Dahl Tomasson to offer seven goals across 41 games during 2022/23.
Tyrhys Dolan
| Name: | Tyrhys Dolan |
| DOB: | 28/12/2001 |
| Position: | Right winger |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | July 2020 |
| Joined From: | Preston North end U18 |
| Kit number: | 10 |
Blackburn Rovers raided the academy fold at Preston North End to sign Tyrhys Dolan in July 2020. He had spent three years furthering his development with the Lilywhites after starting out for Man City. Dolan made his Blackburn debut in August 2020 against Doncaster Rovers.
Ryan Hedges
| Name: | Ryan Peter Hedges |
| DOB: | 08/07/1995 |
| Position: | Right-winger |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2022 |
| Joined From: | Aberdeen |
| Kit number: | 19 |
Aberdeen sold Ryan Hedges to Blackburn in January 2022 for just £200k. The right-winger was set to be out of contract at Pittodrie in the summer, so the Dons accepted his departure to get a fee. His first full Championship term yielded four goals and four assists in 43 games.
John Buckley
| Name: | John Keaton Buckley |
| DOB: | 13/10/1999 |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2018 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 21 |
Blackburn Rovers signed John Buckley to his first professional contract in January 2018 after impressing in the academy. He joined the Lancashire team aged six in 2006 and progressed to get a scholarship in 2015. His senior debut arrived at Sheffield Wednesday in March 2019.
Zak Gilsenan
| Name: | Zak Thomas Gilsenan |
| DOB: | 08/05/2003 |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | July 2018 |
| Joined From: | Liverpool Youth |
| Kit number: | 22 |
Zak Gilsenan switched to Blackburn Rovers in July 2018 following a spell in the youth sides at Liverpool. The midfielder moved to England and signed for the Reds in 2015 after a spell in Barcelona’s academy. He scored on his senior Rovers bow against Walsall in August 2023.
Joh Fleck
| Name: | John Alexander Fleck |
| DOB: | 24/08/1991 |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | February 2024 |
| Joined From: | Sheffield United |
| Kit number: | 23 |
Blackburn Rovers signed John Fleck in a free transfer off Sheffield United in February 2024 on a short-term contract. The midfielder initially moved to Ewood Park until the end of that season after seven-and-a-half years at Bramall Lane. He helped the Blades seal promotion to the Premier League twice and also won the League One title over 278 games for 16 goals.
Andrew Moran
| Name: | Andrew Moran |
| DOB: | 15/10/2003 |
| Position: | Attacking midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | August 2023 |
| Joined From: | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Kit number: | 24 |
Brighton & Hove Albion sent Andrew Moran on loan to Blackburn Rovers in August 2023 on a season-long deal. The Seagulls sought to secure the midfielder senior minutes having only played three times on the south coast. He had also played three games for Bray Wanderers.
Lewis Travis (on loan to Ipswich Town)
| Name: | Lewis Travis |
| DOB: | 16/10/1997 |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2017 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 27 |
Blackburn Rovers promoted Lewis Travis into their first-team squad with his first professional contract in January 2017. Ewood Park chiefs also named the midfielder as the senior captain in July 2022. He replaced Darragh Lenihan and has played in more than 200 senior matches.
Jake Garrett
| Name: | Jake Joseph Garrett |
| DOB: | 10/03/2003 |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | March 2020 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 30 |
Jake Garrett signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers in March 2020 after impressing in their academy. The midfielder joined the Ewood Park natives after spells in the youth squads at Everton and Liverpool. He also later made his senior debut in October 2022.
Yasin Ayari
| Name: | Yasin Abbas Ayari |
| DOB: | 06/10/2003 |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2024 |
| Joined From: | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| Kit number: | 44 |
Brighton & Hove Albion agreed to let Blackburn sign Yasin Ayari on loan in January 2024 for the remainder of the season. The Sweden international switched to Ewood Park having been on loan to Coventry City since August 2023 for one goal through 13 Championship matches.
Blackburn Rovers forwards
Sam Gallagher
| Name: | Samuel James Gallagher |
| DOB: | 15/09/1995 |
| Position: | Centre-forward |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | July 2019 |
| Joined From: | Southampton |
| Kit number: | 9 |
Blackburn Rovers returned to Southampton in July 2019 to agree a permanent £5m transfer for Samuel Gallagher. The striker had featured at Ewood Park on loan from the Saints in the 2016/17 season. He has scored more than 40 goals from over 210 games in all competitions.
Dilan Markanday
| Name: | Dilan Kumar Markanday |
| DOB: | 20/08/2001 |
| Position: | Right winger |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | January 2022 |
| Joined From: | Tottenham Hotspur U21 |
| Kit number: | 18 |
Blackburn Rovers raided Tottenham Hotspur’s academy to sign their prolific youth forward, Dilan Markanday, in January 2022. Spurs accepted £500k, rising to in excess of £1m, for the winger. Blackburn also agreed to give the north London natives a significant sell-on clause.
Harry Leonard
| Name: | Harry Paul Leonard |
| DOB: | 09/12/2003 |
| Position: | Centre-forward |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | December 2021 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 20 |
Blackburn Rovers handed Harry Leonard his first professional contract to join their first-team squad in December 2021. The striker had been at Ewood Park since U10 level. But he had to wait until April 2023 to get his senior debut under Jon Dahl Tomasson at Huddersfield Town.
Jack Vale (on loan to Motherwell)
| Name: | Jack Robert Vale |
| DOB: | 03/03/2001 |
| Position: | Centre-forward |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | March 2017 |
| Joined From: | Academy |
| Kit number: | 29 |
Jack Vale signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers in May 2017. But the striker did not make his senior debut until June 2020 against Reading. Further senior game time has also proven scarce between a series of loan moves for the Wales Under-21 talent.
Semir Telalovic
| Name: | Semir Telalovic |
| DOB: | 23/12/1999 |
| Position: | Centre-forward |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | September 2023 |
| Joined From: | Borussia Monchengladbach |
| Kit number: | 33 |
Borussia Monchengladbach accepted a deadline day offer from Blackburn Rovers for Semir Telalovic in September 2023. The striker had graduated from Die Fohlen’s B-team earlier in 2023. But he moved to Ewood Park having only made cameos in three Bundesliga matches.
Tom Bloxham (on loan to Harrogate Town)
| Name: | Thomas Stanley Bloxham |
| DOB: | 30/04/2005 |
| Position: | Left winger |
| Joined Blackburn Rovers: | June 2023 |
| Joined From: | Tottenham Hotspur U18 |
| Kit number: | 37 |
Blackburn Rovers announced the signing of Tom Bloxham in June 2023 following a trial with the Ewood Park outfit. The forward impressed the Lancashire natives following his exit from Tottenham Hotspur that summer. He got his senior debut in August 2023 in an EFL Cup tie.