The 2022–23 season is the 135th season in the existence of Blackburn Rovers Football Club and the club's fifth consecutive season in the Championship. In addition to the league, they also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Season summary
Pre-season On 5 May, Rovers confirmed their first pre-season friendly fixture, with the club to set play Scottish Premier League champions Celtic on 16 July at Celtic Park. A week later, on 12 May, Rovers confirmed the second game of their pre-season campaign, this time against EFL League Two side Hartlepool United, set to take place on 20 July at Victoria Park. Blackburn also confirmed fixtures against EFL League One opposition Accrington Stanley and Lincoln City, with both friendlies to take place away from home, with Rovers visiting Stanley's Crown Ground on 9 July and Lincoln's Sincil Bank Stadium on 23 July.
May
On 1 May 2022, Rovers announced u23 striker Sam Burns had signed a new one-year contract.
On 11 May 2022, Rovers announced manager Tony Mowbray will be leaving the club.
On 20 May 2022, Rovers confirmed their retained list for the 2022–23 season. The club confirmed it had activated the additional-year clauses in the contracts of Ben Brereton Diaz, Dan Butterworth, Tyler Magloire and Jordan Eastham, with the players now under contract at the club until 30 June 2023. Meanwhile, the club confirmed it had opted against offering deals to retain Bradley Johnson, Jacob Davenport, Harry Chapman, Luke Brennan, Connor McBride, Sam Durrant and Joe Nolan, whilst scholars Joe Ferguson, Brandon Lonsdale and Evan Cunningham were not offered professional deals, with all of the players to leave Rovers upon the expiration of their contracts on 30 June. Blackburn also confirmed Joe Rothwell would be departing the club, with Rothwell confirming his intention to leave at the end of his contract.
On 24 May 2022, Rovers announced assistant manager Mark Venus will be leaving the club.
On 25 May 2022, Rovers announced the appointment of Mark Burton as the club's new Under-23s assistant coach.
On 26 May 2022, Rovers announced u23 midfielder Isaac Whitehall had signed a new one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
June
On 8 June 2022, Rovers announced the appointment of Gregg Broughton as Director of Football.
On 14 June 2022, Rovers announced the appointment of Jon Dahl Tomasson as our new Head Coach on a contract till June 2025. He will be joined by new assistant coach Remy Reynierse and performance director Ben Rosen.
On 15 June 2022, Rovers announced that Head of Academy coach Tony Carss would be leaving the club to take up a position at Aston Villa.
On 21 June 2022, Rovers Rovers announced u23 defender Patrick Gamble had signed his 1st professional a one-year deal until 2023 . Rovers also announced that Head of Recruitment John Park would be leaving the club. It was also announced by the club the same day that several additions to the Recruitment department had been made, with Tom Sutton (Oxford United F.C.) and Karl Newton (Stockport County) joining Anthony Bates at the club.
On 22 June 2022, Rovers announced u23 defender George Pratt had signed his 1st professional contract a two-year deal until 2024.
On 23 June 2022, Rovers announced u23 defender Jalil Saadi had signed a new contract a two-year deal until 2024, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 24 June 2022, Rovers announced u18 forward Harrison Wood had signed his 1st professional contract a two-year deal until 2024.
On 25 June 2022, Rovers announced u18 goalkeeper Felix Goddard had signed his 1st professional contract a two-year deal until 2024, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 29 June 2022, Rovers announced u18 midfielder Kristi Montgomery had signed his 1st professional contract a two-year deal until 2024, with the option of a further 12 months. Rovers also announced that Chris Renshaw has been promoted to assistant first team goalkeeping/transition coach making the step up from his role as Academy goalkeeping coach.
On 30 June 2022, Rovers announced u18 midfielder Charlie Weston had signed his 1st professional contract a two-year deal until 2024.
July On 14 July 2022, Rovers announced u18 defender Jay Haddow had signed his 1st professional contract a two-year deal until 2024, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 22 July 2022, Rovers announced the appointment of Gus Williams as the club’s new Head of Player Recruitment.
September
On 2 September 2022, Rovers announced midfielder John Buckley had signed a new long term contract a five-year deal until 2027.
On 12 September 2022, Rovers announced midfielder Adam Wharton had signed a new long term contract a five-year deal until 2027.
On 20 September 2022, Rovers announced defender Ashley Phillips had signed his 1st professional contract a three-year deal until 2025.
On 27 September 2022, Rovers announced U23 defender Sam Barnes had signed a new one-year until 2023, with the option of a further 12 months.
October
On 12 October 2022, Rovers announced the appointment of Jordan McCann as Head of Academy Coaching.
On 24 October 2022, Rovers announced forward Jack Vale had signed a new long term contract a three-year deal until 2025, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 25 October 2022, Rovers announced u21 defender Jake Batty had signed his 1st professional contract a three-year deal until 2025.
November
On 17 November 2022, Rovers announced u18 midfielder James Edmundson had signed his 1st professional contract a three-year deal until 2025.
On 23 November 2022, Rovers announced the appointment of Adam Collins from Manchester City as Head of Performance Analysis, Also Luke Griffin recently arrived as Head of European Scouting.
January
On 27 January 2023, Rovers announced u21 midfielder Harley O’Grady-Macken had signed his 1st professional contract a two-&-half-year deal until 2025.
March
On 1 March 2023, Rovers announced they had been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien and Rochdale midfielder Ethan Brierley.
On 6 March 2023, Rovers announced Gus Williams will be leaving his role as Rovers’ Head of Player Recruitment to return to Wales.
On 21 March 2023, Rovers announced midfielder Jake Garrett had signed a new four-year deal until 2027.
On 22 March 2023, Rovers announced goalkeeper Jordan Eastham had signed a new two-year deal until 2025.
On 28 March 2023, Rovers announced goalkeeper Joe Hilton had signed a new two-year deal until 2025.
On 29 March 2023, Rovers announced defender Scott Wharton had signed a new four-year deal until 2027.
On 30 March 2023, Rovers announced defender Hayden Carter had signed a new four-year deal until 2027.
April
On 17 April 2023, Rovers announced the appointment of Sean Kimberley as the club’s new Head of Player Recruitment.
May
On 1 May 2023, Rovers announced Dominic Hyam had been voted Player of the Season he also was voted Players Player of the Season, Adam Wharton was voted Young Player of the Season, Joe Rankin-Costello won the most Man of the Match awards, Hayden Carter was voted Unsung Hero, Sammie Szmodics was voted best Newcomer of the Season & Harry Pickering's goal against Sheffield United was voted Goal of the Season.
On 8 May 2023, Rovers announced forward Ben Brereton Diaz will be leaving the club at the end of his contract on 30 June.
On 12 May 2023, Rovers announced goalkeeper Aynsley Pears had signed a new four-year deal until 2027.
On 16 May 2023, Rovers announced forward Danny Butterworth will be leaving the club at the end of his contract on 30 June.
On 17 May 2023, Rovers announced attacking midfielder Bradley Dack will be leaving the club at the end of his contract on 30 June.
On 18 May 2023, Rovers announced defender Daniel Ayala will be leaving the club at the end of his contract on 30 June.
Backroom staff Backroom staff last updated on 27 November 2022. List is representative of staff available on rovers.co.uk.
Squad information Players and squad numbers last updated on 8 May 2022. List is representative of players who have made an appearance for the first-team this season and of information available on Rovers.co.uk.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. No. Pos. Nat. Name Date of birth & age Year joined Contract expires Joined from Other Ref Goalkeepers 35GKJordan Eastham 2018 2025Academy 34GKJoe Hilton 2019 2025 Everton1GKThomas Kaminski 2020 2025 Gent 13GKAynsley Pears 2020 2027 Middlesbrough Defenders4 DFDaniel Ayala 2020 2023 Middlesbrough 32DFSam Barnes 2012 2024(+1)Academy Option for 12 month extension 40DFJake Batty 2021 2025Academy 2DFCallum Brittain 2022 2026 Barnsley 17DFHayden Carter 2014 2027Academy 5 DFDominic Hyam 2022 2025 Coventry City 15DFClinton Mola 2022 2023 Stuttgart On loan from Stuttgart3 DFHarry Pickering 2021 2025 Crewe Alexandra 33DFAshley Phillips 2017 2025Academy 16 DFScott Wharton 2010 2027Academy Midfielders21 MFJohn Buckley 2006 2027Academy 23 MFBradley Dack 2017 2023(+1) Gillingham Option for 12 month extension 10MFTyrhys Dolan 2020 2024(+1) Preston North End Option for 12 month extension7 MFTayo Edun 2021 2024(+1) Lincoln City Option for 12 month extension 30MFJake Garrett 2013 2027Academy 37MFJared Harlock 2019 2023Academy19MFRyan Hedges 2022 2025(+1) Aberdeen Option for 12 month extension6MFTyler Morton 2022 2023 Liverpool On loan from Liverpool11MFJoe Rankin-Costello 2014 2024Academy8MFSammie Szmodics 2022 2025(+1) Peterborough United Option for 12 month extension 14MFSorba Thomas 2023 2023 Huddersfield Town On loan from Huddersfield Town27 MFLewis Travis 2014 2026Academy 36MFAdam Wharton 2010 2027Academy Forwards22 FWBen Brereton Diaz 2018 2023 Nottingham Forest 9 FW Sam Gallagher 2019 2024(+1) Southampton Option for 12 month extension 38FWHarry Leonard 2013 2025Academy18 FW Dilan Markanday 2022 2025(+1) Tottenham Hotspur On loan at Aberdeen, Option for 12 month extension29FWJack Vale20172025(+1)Academy Option for 12 month extension
Transfers In DatePosPlayerTransferred fromFeeRefOther 1 July 2022 LW Ethan Walker Preston North End Free Transfer Signed for Blackburn Rovers U23's 21 July 2022 RB Callum Brittain Barnsley Undisclosed 1 August 2022 CAM Sammie Szmodics Peterborough United Undisclosed 28 August 2022 CB Dominic Hyam Coventry City Undisclosed
Out DatePosPlayerTransferred toFeeRef 30 June 2022 LM Luke Brennan (Wigan Athletic) Released 30 June 2022 RM Harry Chapman (Bradford City) Released 30 June 2022 CF Evan Cunningham (Atherton Collieries) Released 30 June 2022 CM Jacob Davenport (Lincoln City) Released 30 June 2022 CAM Sam Durrant (Sheffield Wednesday) Released 30 June 2022 RB Joe Ferguson (Matlock Town) Released 30 June 2022 CM Bradley Johnson (Milton Keynes Dons) Released 30 June 2022 CB Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough) Rejected contract 30 June 2022 CF Brandon Lonsdale (Nelson) Released 30 June 2022 CAM Connor McBride (Raith Rovers) Released 30 June 2022 RB Ryan Nyambe (Wigan Athletic) End of Contract (player & club failed to reach agreement) 30 June 2022 CM Joe Nolan (Chorley) Released 30 June 2022 CM Joe Rothwell (Bournemouth) Released 1 July 2022 GK Antonis Stergiakis Panetolikos Free transfer 28 July 2022 CB Tyler Magloire Northampton Town Undisclosed 10 January 2023 CB Louie Annesley Dundalk Free Transfer Brackets around club names indicate the player joined that club after his Blackburn Rovers contract expired.
Loans in DatePosPlayerLoaned fromOn loan untilRefOther 1 August 2022 CM Tyler Morton Liverpool End of Season 31 August 2022 CF George Hirst Leicester City End of Season (Recalled) Includes option to buy 1 September 2022 CB Clinton Mola Stuttgart End of Season Includes option to buy 25 January 2023 RW Sorba Thomas Huddersfield Town End of Season
Loans out