The 2024–25 season was the 137th season in the history of Blackburn Rovers Football Club and their seventh consecutive season in the Championship. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Season summary May On 18 May 2024, Rovers announced their retained list, The club confirmed they activated the one-year options in the contracts of Sam Gallagher & Tyrhys Dolan, meaning the attacking duo will remain contracted to the club for a further 12 months, discussions are ongoing with Kyle McFadzean & John Fleck while Sam Barnes, Lenni Cirino, Ben Fyles, Jay Haddow, Jared Harlock, Ethan Walker & Charlie Weston, along with second year scholar Ben Thirkill, will not be retained by the club upon the expiration of their current agreements.
June On 14 June 2024, Rovers announced the appointments of Rudy Gestede as Head of Football Operations, replacing Gregg Broughton, and the return of John Park as Head of Recruitment, replacing Sean Kimberley.
July On 2 July 2024, Rovers announced that Igor Tyjon will remain at the club he is one of 14 promising players to sign a two-year scholarship contract with the club until 2026 along with Michael Decandia, Isaac Dunn, Valentin Joseph, Leon Kelly-Quinn, Freddie Leatherbarrow, Bruce Leeming, Tyler Mansbridge, Harvey Pates, Aaron Potter, Jayden Sergeant, Luke Thompson, Frank Vare & Blake Wolsoncroft.
On 3 July 2024, Rovers announced that a number of Academy graduates have now signed their first professional contracts with the club, Lewis Bell, Rhys Doherty, Adam Khan, Matty Litherland, Paul Murphy-Worrell, Brandon Powell & Zack Stritch signed one-year contracts until 2025, with the option of an extra 12 months & Solomon Honor signed a two-year deal until 2026, with a 12-month option.
On 6 July 2024, Rovers announced the appointment of Adam Owen as the club's new Head of Technical Development.
On 12 July 2024, Rovers announced u21 defender Charlie Olson had signed a new 2-year contract until 2026, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 15 July 2024, Rovers announced u21 midfielder Isaac Whitehall had signed a new 1-year contract until 2025, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 17 July 2024, Rovers announced u21 winger Harrison Wood had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026.
August On 2 August 2024, Rovers announced u18 attacker Nathan Dlamini had signed a new 1-year contract until 2025, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 11 August 2024, Rovers announced u18 attacking midfielder Patrik Farkas had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026.
September On 6 September 2024, Rovers announced u21 defender Max Davies had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026.
On 13 September 2024, Rovers announced u18 attacking midfielder Dan Shaw had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026.
October
November On 15 November 2024, Rovers announced u21 defender Tom Atcheson had signed a new long term contract, a 4-year deal until 2028, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 20 November 2024, Rovers announced John Park had left his role as Head of Recruitment.
December
January On 7 January 2025, Rovers announced u21 goalkeeper Nicholas Michalski had signed a new 2-year deal until 2027.
February On 13 February 2025, Rovers announced head coach John Eustace had left the club along with his assistants Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing to join Derby County, David Lowe was put in temporary charge.
On 25 February 2025, Rovers announced the appointment of Valérien Ismaël as head coach on a 3 and half year contract.
On 26 February 2025, Rovers announced the appointment of Dean Whitehead as assistant head coach.
March
April On 3 April 2025, Rovers announced Dominic Hyam will remain at the club until June 2026 after activating the option of a further 12 months.
On 4 April 2025, Rovers announced Yuri Ribeiro had signed a new 2 year contract until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months.
On 23 April 2025, Rovers announced u18 right back Lucas Houghton had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months.
On 26 April 2025, Rovers announced that Sondre Tronstad was voted player of the season.
May On 2 May 2025, Rovers announced that Andi Weimann's goal against Burnley at Turf Moor was voted goal of the season.
On 5 May 2025, Rovers announced that head of academy Stuart Jones had left the club.
On 9 May 2025, Rovers announced u21 defender George Pratt had signed a new 1 year contract until 2026 with the option of a further 12 months.
On 10 May 2025, Rovers announced u21 midfielder Harley O'Grady-Macken had signed a new 1 year contract until 2026 with the option of a further 12 months.
On 11 May 2025, Rovers announced u21 defender Brandon Powell had signed a new 2 year contract until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months.
On 12 May 2025, Rovers announced u21 defender Matty Litherland had signed a new 2 year contract until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months.
On 16 May 2025, Rovers announced he appointment of Paul Gray as the club’s new Head of Academy, Paul will be supported in the role by John Prince, who recently replaced Jordan McCann as Rovers’ Head of Academy Coaching.
On 18 May 2025, Rovers announced u21 goalkeeper Jack Barrett had signed a new 2 year contract until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months.
Backroom staff
Senior football
Academy football
First-team squad Players and squad numbers last updated on 1 February 2024. 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 34GKJack Barrett 20242027 (+1) Everton On loan at Workington, Option for 12-month extension 35GKJordan Eastham 20182025Academy On loan at Ashton United 38GKNicholas Michalski 20232026Academy 1GKAynsley Pears 20202027 Middlesbrough 12GKBalázs Tóth 20242027 Fehérvár Defenders 48DFTom Atcheson 20232026Academy 15DFDanny Batth 20242025 Norwich City 25DFJake Batty 20212025Academy On loan at Accrington Stanley 24DFOwen Beck 20242025 Liverpool On loan from Liverpool 2DFCallum Brittain 20222026 Barnsley 17DFHayden Carter 20142027Academy 39DFLeo Duru 20152026 (+1)Academy On loan at Barrow, Option for 12-month extension 5DFDominic Hyam 20222026 Coventry City 40DF Matty Litherland 20112027 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension, On loan at Curzon Ashton 26DFConnor O'Riordan 20242028 Crewe Alexandra On loan at Crewe Alexandra 3DFHarry Pickering 20212027 (+1) Crewe Alexandra Option for 12-month extension 50DFBrandon Powell 20222027 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 43DF George Pratt 20212026 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 4DF Yuri Ribeiro 20252027 (+1) Braga Option for 12-month extension 31DFDion Sanderson 20252025 Birmingham City On loan from Birmingham City 16DFScott Wharton 20102027Academy Midfielders 21MFJohn Buckley 20062027Academy 8MFTodd Cantwell 20242027 Rangers 33MFAmario Cozier-Duberry20242025 Brighton & Hove AlbionOn loan from Brighton & Hove Albion 46MFIsaac Dunn 20242026Academy 36MFJames Edmondson 20112027Academy 28MFAdam Forshaw 20252025 Plymouth Argyle 30MFJake Garrett 20132027Academy On loan at Tranmere Rovers 22MFZak Gilsenan 20192025 (+1) Liverpool Option for 12-month extension 51MFKristi Montgomery 20132026 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 41MFHarley O'Grady-Macken 20212026 (+1) Wolverhampton Wanderers Option for 12-month extension 11MFJoe Rankin-Costello 20142027Academy 27MFLewis Travis 20142026Academy 6MFSondre Tronstad 20232026 Vitesse 49MFFrank Vare 20182026Academy Forwards 37FW Tom Bloxham 20232025 Tottenham Hotspur 42FW Emmanuel Dennis 20252025 Nottingham Forest On loan from Nottingham Forest 10FWTyrhys Dolan 20202025 Preston North End 9FWMakhtar Gueye20242027 (+1) RWD Molenbeek Option for 12-month extension 19FWRyan Hedges 20222026 Aberdeen 47FWAugustus Kargbo20252027 Cesena 20FWHarry Leonard 20132027Academy 18FW Dilan Markanday 20222025 (+1) Tottenham Hotspur On loan at Leyton Orient, Option for 12-month extension 44FWExaucé Mafoumbi20242027 (+1) Nantes On loan at Lierse, Option for 12-month extension 23FWYūki Ōhashi20242027 (+1) Sanfrecce Hiroshima Option for 12-month extension 32FW Igor Tyjon 20232026Academy 29FWJack Vale20172025 (+1)Academy On loan at Motherwell, Option for 12-month extension 14FWAndi Weimann 20242025 Bristol City 45FW Cauley Woodrow 20252025 Luton Town On loan from Luton Town
Transfers In DatePos.PlayerFromFeeRef. 15 June 2024 LW Undisclosed 16 July 2024 GK Free 30 July 2024 CF Undisclosed 31 July 2024 CF Undisclosed 31 July 2024 CF Free 1 August 2024 CB Free 1 August 2024 CF Free 30 August 2024 GK Undisclosed 30 August 2024 CM Undisclosed 1 November 2024 CB Undisclosed 11 January 2025 CM Free 31 January 2025 CF Undisclosed 3 February 2025 LB Free
Out DatePosPlayerToFeeRef 3 July 2024 GK Undisclosed 10 July 2024 CF Undisclosed 31 July 2024 CM Tribunal 31 July 2024 CF Undisclosed 2 August 2024 LB Undisclosed 16 August 2024 CAM Undisclosed 24 January 2025 LW Free 3 February 2025 GK Undisclosed
Loaned in DatePosPlayerFromDate untilRef 27 August 2024 LB End of Season 29 August 2024 CM 8 January 2025 30 August 2024 CAM End of Season 10 January 2025 CB End of Season 3 February 2025 CF End of Season 3 February 2025 CF End of Season
Loaned out DatePos.PlayerToDate untilRef. 10 July 2024 GK 1 January 2025 29 July 2024 GK 25 September 2024 3 August 2024 CM 3 January 2025 6 August 2024 CB 1 January 2025 6 August 2024 CM 1 January 2025 10 August 2024 CB 14 January 2025 11 August 2024 RW January 2025 12 August 2024 CB 9 January 2025 12 August 2024 RW January 2025 15 August 2024 CM 15 September 2024 15 August 2024 RW 16 January 2025 17 August 2024 GK 11 September 2024 29 August 2024 LB End of Season 30 August 2024 CF End of Season 7 September 2024 GK End of Season 10 September 2024 CM End of Season 13 September 2024 AM 27 October 2024 11 October 2024 CB 9 November 2024 18 October 2024 CB 17 November 2024 19 October 2024 GK 24 December 2024 21 October 2024 CM 2 January 2025 22 October 2024 GK 26 April 2025 26 October 2024 CM 24 November 2024 12 November 2024 GK 6 December 2024 26 November 2024 LB 22 January 2025 5 December 2024 CB End of Season 5 December 2024 CB 4 January 2025 7 January 2025 GK End of Season 9 January 2025 RW 15 February 2025 9 January 2025 RB End of Season 16 January 2025 RW End of Season 20 January 2025 CB End of Season 25 January 2025 RW 26 February 2025 31 January 2025 DM End of Season 3 February 2025 CF End of Season 14 February 2025 GK End of Season 14 February 2025 CM 4 April 2025 21 March 2025 CB End of Season 27 March 2025 RW End of Season 28 March 2025 LB 5 May 2025
Released / Out of Contract DatePos.PlayerSubsequent clubJoin dateRef. 30 June 2024 CB 1 July 2024 30 June 2024 LB 20 September 2024 30 June 2024 CM 10 September 2024 30 June 2024 LW 30 June 2024 RB 1 July 2024 30 June 2024 CM 20 September 2024 30 June 2024 CF 7 August 2024 30 June 2024 CB 16 October 2024 30 June 2024 LW 1 July 2024 30 June 2024 CM 2 September 2024 22 January 2025 CB 22 January 2025 17 February 2025 LW 19 February 2025
Pre-season and friendlies On 16 May, Rovers announced their first three pre-season friendlies, against Accrington Stanley, Wigan Athletic and Stockport County. A month later, a further two fixtures was confirmed, against Tranmere Rovers behind closed doors and Morecambe. On 28 June, a pre-season training camp in Austria was also confirmed, along with a friendly against 1. FC Nürnberg.
Competitions Overall record
Championship
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches