The 2026–27 season is the 139th season in the history of Blackburn Rovers Football Club and their ninth consecutive season in the Championship. In addition to the domestic league, the club would also participate in the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.
Season summary May On 19 May 2026, Rovers announced their retained list. The club confirmed they activated the one-year options in the contract of Kristi Montgomery. The club made a contract offer to Nathan Dlamini, while Igor Tyjon, Valentin Joseph and Bruce Leeming all had their scholarship agreements extended into a third year.
The club confirmed that Ryan Hedges, Sondre Tronstad and Nathan Redmond would all leave Ewood Park when their contracts expire at the end of June. Under-21s players Leo Duru, Harley O'Grady-Macken, Adam Khan, Harrison Wood, Joe Boggan, Zack Stritch and Patrik Farkas, along with scholars Aaron Potter, Blake Wolsoncroft, Leon Kelley-Quinn and Luke Thompson, will not be retained by the club upon the expiration of their current contracts.
On 23 May 2026, Rovers announced the appointment of Steve Curwood as the club's Chief Executive Officer.
June On 5 June, Rovers announced the return of Tony Mowbray as head coach on a long-term contract.
On 11 June, Rovers announced first team coach Phil Jones had left the club.
On 23 June, Rovers announced the appointment of Paul Butler as under-21 head coach steeping up from his role as under-18 head coach.
On 27 June, Rovers announced the appointment of Mike Dodds as assistant head coach.
July On 1 July, Rovers announced new kit manufacturers Umbro in a long-term partnership.
On 18 July, Rovers announced the appointment of Gareth Stewart as first team goalkeeper coach.
On 20 July, Rovers announced that Damien Johnson had been promoted to assistant head coach & head of player development.
On 24 July, it was announced Rovers Head of Medical Andrew Proctor had left to join Norwich City as Head of Physiotherapy.
August On 11 August, Rovers announced that Dan Stubberfield had been appointed as the new head coach of the under-18s.
September On 2 September, Rovers announced announced the appointment of Wayne Gill as Head of Physiotherapy & Dave Fevre who returns as a Medical Consultant.
Backroom staff
Senior football
Academy football
Current squad Players and squad numbers last updated on 19 May 2026. 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 Option for 12-month extension, On loan at Marine 37GKFelix Goddard 20202027 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 1GKAynsley Pears 20202027 Middlesbrough 38GKFinley Taylor 20262028 (+1) Brighton & Hove Albion Option for 12-month extension 22GKBalázs Tóth 20242027 Fehérvár Defenders 6DFTom Atcheson 20232030Academy 2DFRyan Alebiosu 20252028 (+1) Kortrijk Option for 12-month extension 17DFHayden Carter 20142027Academy 27DFGady Beyuku 2026 Modena 46DFMichael Decandia 20242028 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 47DFLucas Houghton 20252027 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 40DF Matty Litherland 20112027 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 15DFSean McLoughlin 20252027 (+1) Hull City Option for 12-month extension 33DFLewis Miller 20252028 (+1) Hibernian Option for 12-month extension. 26DFConnor O'Riordan 20242028 Crewe Alexandra On loan at Barnsley 39DFHarvey Pates 20262028 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 3DFHarry Pickering 20212027 (+1) Crewe Alexandra Option for 12-month extension 43DF George Pratt 20212030Academy On loan at Bradford City 4DF Yuri Ribeiro 20252027 (+1) Braga Option for 12-month extension 16DFScott Wharton 20102028 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension Midfielders 24MFMoussa Baradji 2025 Yverdon Sport 10MFTodd Cantwell 20242027 Rangers 14MFDion De Neve 20252028 (+1) Kortrijk Option for 12-month extension. 28MFAdam Forshaw 20252027 Plymouth Argyle 30MFJake Garrett 20132027Academy 18MFAxel Henriksson 20252029 (+1) GAIS Option for 12-month extension, On loan at Randers 42MFHarry Lister 20252027Academy 31MFKristi Montgomery 2013Academy 25MFRyōya Morishita20252028 (+1) Legia Warsaw Option for 12-month extension 8MFSam Morsy20262027 (+1) Bristol City Option for 12-month extension 5MFSidnei Tavares 20252028 Moreirense On loan at Wisła Płock 53MFFrank Vare 20242028 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension Forwards 21FWDapo Afolayan20262027 (+1) St Pauli Option for 12-month extension 11FWJayden Fevrier 2026 Stockport County 9FWAndri Guðjohnsen 2025 Gent 45FWHarvey Higgins 20162028 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 29FWMathias Jørgensen 20262029 (+1) Bodø/Glimt Option for 12-month extension 7FWAugustus Kargbo20252027 Cesena 23FWYūki Ōhashi20242027 (+1) Sanfrecce Hiroshima Option for 12-month extension
Transfers and contracts In DatePos.PlayerFromFeeRef. First team 19 May 2026 CM Moussa Baradji Yverdon Sport £2,000,000 28 July 2026 RW Jayden Fevrier Stockport County £500,000 10 August 2026 CM Sam Morsy Bristol City Free 2 September 2026 RB Gady Beyuku Modena Undisclosed Academy 18 May 2026 CAM Kajus Čepas Bracknell Town Undisclosed LW Chase Whiffing AFC Portchester 1 July 2026 RW Theo Chimpango Manchester City 23 July 2026 GK Finley Taylor Brighton & Hove Albion Free 27 July 2026 LB Tino Goremusandu Southampton 30 July 2026 CM Yerime Ouattara Brentford 4 August 2026 CB Alfie Rice Notts County Undisclosed 17 August 2026 CM Josh Ubah Newcastle United Undisclosed
Out DatePos.PlayerToFeeRef. First team Academy 1 August 2026 CF Valentin Joseph Brighton & Hove Albion £500,000 4 August 2026 RB Finley Wilkinson Bolton Wanderers Free 28 August 2026 CF Igor Tyjon Arsenal £1,000,000
Loaned in DatePos.PlayerFromLoaned untilRef. First team Academy
Loaned out DatePos.PlayerToLoaned untilRef. First team 27 August 2026 CB Connor O'Riordan Barnsley End of Season CB George Pratt Bradford City End of Season 28 August 2026 CM Axel Henriksson Randers End of Season 1 September 2026 CDM Sidnei Tavares Wisła Płock Academy 17 July 2026 CB Max Davies Southport End of Season 25 July 2026 LW Aodhan Doherty Falkirk 1 August 2026 LW Osman Kamara Crawley Town GK Nicholas Michalski 7 August 2026 GK Jack Barrett Marine 25 September 2026 25 September 2026 CM Tyler Mansbridge Bamber Bridge 25 October 2026
Released / Out of Contract DatePos.PlayerSubsequent clubJoined dateRef. First team 30 June 2026 DM Sondre Tronstad Brann 12 August 2026 RW Ryan Hedges Derby County 20 August 2026 RW Nathan Redmond Academy 30 June 2026 CM Harley O'Grady-Macken Radcliffe 5 July 2026 CF Joe Boggan Livingston 15 July 2026 RB Leo Duru Carlisle United 25 July 2026 GK Luke Thompson Avro 26 July 2026 RW Harrison Wood Warrington Rylands 1 August 2026 CB Leon Kelley-Quinn Siena Saints 8 August 2026 CAM Zack Stritch AFC Fylde 8 August 2026 LW Nathan Dlamini West Bromwich Albion 17 August 2026 CM Patrik Farkas Liverpool 15 September 2026 GK Adam Khan CM Aaron Potter GK Blake Wolsoncroft
New Contract DatePos.PlayerContract expiryRef. First team 19 May 2026 CM Kristi Montgomery 30 June 2027 6 July 2026 Undisclosed Academy 19 May 2026 CF Valentin Joseph 30 June 2027 LB Bruce Leeming CF Igor Tyjon 25 July 2026 LW Aodhan Doherty 30 June 2030 3 August 2026 LW Archie McCoy Undisclosed 16 September 2026 RB Theo Pitt 30 June 2029
Pre-season and friendlies On 20 May, Blackburn Rovers announced pre season friendlies with Accrington Stanley and Huddersfield Town. In June, a pre-season training camp in Algarve between 19–25 July was confirmed along with a fixture against Nottingham Forest. On 6 July, a behind closed doors meeting with Strasbourgh was also added to the Portugal training camp.
Competitions Overall record
EFL Championship
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 25 June, the Championship fixtures were revealed.
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Blackburn were drawn away to Burton Albion in the first round and at home to Sheffield United in the second round.
| stadium = Ewood Park | location = Blackburn | referee = David Webb | attendance = 6,826
Statistics Appearances and goals
Goalscorers
RankNo.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupEFL CupTotal 1 9 CF Andri Guðjohnsen 3 0 1 4 21 RW Dapo Afolayan 3 0 1 4 2 25 RW Ryōya Morishita 2 0 0 2 3 10 CM Todd Cantwell 1 0 0 1 11 RW Jayden Fevrier 0 0 1 1 15 CB Sean McLaughlin 1 0 0 1 31 CM Kristi Montgomery 1 0 0 1Total 11 0 3 14
Assists
RankNo.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupEFL CupTotal 1 3 LB Harry Pickering 2 0 0 2 21 RW Dapo Afolayan 2 0 0 2 25 RW Ryōya Morishita 1 0 1 2 2 2 RB Ryan Alebiosu 0 0 1 1 6 CB Tom Atcheson 1 0 0 1 8 CM Sam Morsy 1 0 0 1 9 CF Andri Guðjohnsen 1 0 0 1 10 CM Todd Cantwell 0 0 1 1 11 RW Jayden Fevrier 1 0 0 1Total 9 0 3 12
Awards Player Awards EFL Championship Goal of the Month MonthPlayerOppositionResultRef.August Ryoya Morishitav. Queens Park Rangers
References