2024–25 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season

137th season in existence of Blackburn Rovers FC

Blackburn Rovers 2024–25 football season

Blackburn Rovers
2024–25 season
Owner	V H Group
CEO	Steve Waggott
Head Coach	John Eustace
Stadium	Ewood Park
← 2023–24 2025–26 →

The 2024–25 season is 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 would also participate 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.^[1]

Backroom staff

Backroom staff last updated on 9 February 2024. List is representative of staff available on rovers.co.uk.^[2]

Position	Staff
Director of Football
Head Coach	John Eustace
Assistant Head Coach/Set-Piece Coach	Matt Gardiner
Assistant Head Coach	Keith Downing
First Team Coach	David Lowe
Goalkeeping Coach	Ben Benson
First Team Technical Coach & Head of Player Development	Damien Johnson
Head of Performance	Karl Hodges
Consultant	Dr Chris Dalton
Head of Medical Services	Andrew Procter
Head of Performance Analysis	Adam Collins
Head of Recruitment	Sean Kimberley
Head of Academy	Stuart Jones
Head of Academy Coaching	Jordan McCann
Under-23s Lead Coach	Mike Sheron
Head of Education & Welfare	Neil Chadwick
Head of Academy Sports Science and Medical	Russ Wrigley
Head of Academy Recruitment	Michael Cribley
Under-18s Lead Coach	Ryan Kidd

Last updated: 9 February 2024
Source: https://www.rovers.co.uk/club/staff/

Current 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.^[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Name	Date of birth & age	Year joined	Contract expires	Joined from	Other	Ref
Goalkeepers
	GK	Joe Hilton	(1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 24)	2019	2025	Everton		^[4]
	GK	Aynsley Pears	(1998-04-23) 23 April 1998 (age 26)	2020	2027	Middlesbrough		^[5]
	GK	Leopold Wahlstedt	(1999-07-04) 4 July 1999 (age 24)	2023	2026	Odd		^[6]
Defenders
	DF	Jake Batty	(2005-04-05) 5 April 2005 (age 19)	2021	2025	Academy		^[7]
	DF	Callum Brittain	(1998-03-12) 12 March 1998 (age 26)	2022	2026	Barnsley		^[8]
	DF	Hayden Carter	(1999-12-17) 17 December 1999 (age 24)	2014	2027	Academy		^[9]
	DF	Patrick Gamble	(2003-10-03) 3 October 2003 (age 20)	2010	2025 (+1)	Academy	Option for 12 month extension	^[10]
	DF	Dominic Hyam	(1995-12-20) 20 December 1995 (age 28)	2022	2025	Coventry City		^[11]
	DF	Kyle McFadzean	(1987-02-28) 28 February 1987 (age 37)	2024	2024	Coventry City
	DF	Connor O'Riordan	(2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 (age 20)	2024	2028	Crewe Alexandra		^[12]
	DF	Harry Pickering	(1998-12-29) 29 December 1998 (age 25)	2021	2027 (+1)	Crewe Alexandra	Option for 12 month extension	^[13]
	DF	Scott Wharton	(1997-10-03) 3 October 1997 (age 26)	2010	2027	Academy		^[14]
Midfielders
	MF	John Buckley	(1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 (age 24)	2006	2027	Academy		^[15]
	MF	John Fleck	(1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 (age 32)	2024	2024	Sheffield United
	MF	Jake Garrett	(2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 21)	2013	2027	Academy		^[16]
	MF	Zak Gilsenan	(2003-05-08) 8 May 2003 (age 21)	2019	2025 (+1)	Liverpool	Option for 12 month extension	^[17]
	MF	Joe Rankin-Costello	(1999-07-26) 26 July 1999 (age 24)	2014	2027	Academy		^[18]
	MF	Sammie Szmodics	(1995-09-24) 24 September 1995 (age 28)	2022	2026 (+1)	Peterborough United	Option for 12 month extension	^[19]
	MF	Lewis Travis	(1997-10-16) 16 October 1997 (age 26)	2014	2026	Academy		^[20]
	MF	Sondre Tronstad	(1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 (age 28)	2023	2026	Vitesse		^[21]
Forwards
	FW	Tyrhys Dolan	(2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 (age 22)	2020	2025	Preston North End		^[1]
	FW	Sam Gallagher	(1995-09-15) 15 September 1995 (age 28)	2019	2025	Southampton		^[1]
	FW	Ryan Hedges	(1995-07-08) 8 July 1995 (age 28)	2022	2025 (+1)	Aberdeen	Option for 12 month extension	^[22]
	FW	Harry Leonard	(2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 20)	2013	2027	Academy		^[23]
	FW	Dilan Markanday	(2001-08-20) 20 August 2001 (age 22)	2022	2025 (+1)	Tottenham Hotspur	Option for 12 month extension	^[24]
	FW	Arnór Sigurðsson	(1999-05-15) 15 May 1999 (age 25)	2023	2025	CSKA Moscow		^[25]
	FW	Semir Telalović	(1999-12-23) 23 December 1999 (age 24)	2023	2026 (+1)	Borussia Mönchengladbach	Option for 12 month extension	^[26]
	FW	Jack Vale	(2001-03-03) 3 March 2001 (age 23)	2017	2025 (+1)	Academy		^[27]

Transfers

In

Date	Pos	Player	From	Fee	Ref

Out

Date	Pos	Player	Ref
30 June 2024	CB	Sam Barnes	^[1]
30 June 2024	LB	Lenni Cirino	^[1]
30 June 2024	LW	Ben Fyles	^[1]
30 June 2024	RB	Jay Haddow	^[1]
30 June 2024	CM	Jared Harlock	^[1]
30 June 2024	CB	Ben Thirkill	^[1]
30 June 2024	LW	Ethan Walker	^[1]
30 June 2024	CM	Charlie Weston	^[1]

Loaned in

Date	Pos	Player	From	Date until	Ref

Loaned out

Date	Pos	Player	To	Date until	Ref

Pre-season and friendlies

On 16 May, Rovers announced their first three pre-season friendlies, against Accrington Stanley, Wigan Athletic and Stockport County.^[28]

Win Draw Loss Fixtures

Accrington Stanley v Blackburn Rovers

6 July 2024 Friendly	Accrington Stanley	v	Blackburn Rovers	Accrington
14:00 BST				Stadium: Crown Ground
Note: 2 x 60min matches

Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers

27 July 2024 Friendly	Wigan Athletic	v	Blackburn Rovers	Wigan
15:00 BST				Stadium: Brick Community Stadium

Stockport County v Blackburn Rovers

2 August 2024 Friendly	Stockport County	v	Blackburn Rovers	Stockport
19:30 BST				Stadium: Edgeley Park

Competitions

Championship

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Blackburn Rovers	Promotion to the Premier League
2	Bristol City	Promotion to the Premier League
3	Burnley	Qualification for the Championship play-offs
4	Cardiff City
5	Coventry City
6	Derby County

First match(es) will be played: 10 August 2024. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) Number of 12-point sending off offences; 9) Play-off (only if needed to determine promotion/relegation)^[29]

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Last updated: pre-season.
Source: Soccerway

Matches

Win Draw Loss Fixtures

FA Cup

Win Draw Loss Fixtures

EFL Cup

Win Draw Loss Fixtures

Statistics

Appearances and goals

As of pre-season

List includes all first team players and any other matchday squad players

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Championship		FA Cup		EFL Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
—	GK	ENG	Joe Hilton	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	GK	ENG	Aynsley Pears	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	GK	SWE	Leopold Wahlstedt	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Defenders
—	DF	ENG	Jake Batty	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	ENG	Callum Brittain	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	ENG	Hayden Carter	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	ENG	Patrick Gamble	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	SCO	Dominic Hyam	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	ENG	Kyle McFadzean	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	IRL	Connor O'Riordan	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	ENG	Harry Pickering	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	ENG	Scott Wharton	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Midfielders
—	MF	ENG	John Buckley	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF	SCO	John Fleck	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF	ENG	Jake Garrett	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF	IRL	Zak Gilsenan	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	DF	ENG	Joe Rankin-Costello	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF	IRL	Sammie Szmodics	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF	ENG	Lewis Travis	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	MF	NOR	Sondre Tronstad	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Forwards
—	FW	ENG	Tyrhys Dolan	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW	ENG	Sam Gallagher	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW	WAL	Ryan Hedges	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW	ENG	Harry Leonard	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW	ENG	Dilan Markanday	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW	ISL	Arnór Sigurðsson	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW	GER	Semir Telalović	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
—	FW	WAL	Jack Vale	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Retain List confirmed". Blackburn Rovers FC. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
^ "Staff – rovers.co.uk".
^ "First Team – Rovers.co.uk". Rovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
^ "Hilton's here to stay!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 28 March 2023.
^ "Pears pens new deal". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
^ "Swedish stopper signs!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
^ "Batty pens pro deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 25 October 2022.
^ "Rovers land great Brittain!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 21 July 2022.
^ "Carter commits!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 30 March 2022.
^ "Pat pens new deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
^ "Dom deal done!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
^ "O'Riordan is a Rover". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "Pickering pens new deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
^ "Scott signs new deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
^ "Buckley signs new long-term deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 2 September 2022.
^ "Garrett pens new long-term deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
^ "Zak extends Ewood stay". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
^ "Joe's here to stay!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
^ "Sammie nets new long-term deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^ "Trav signs new long-term deal!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 11 March 2022.
^ "Sondre signs!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 15 June 2023.
^ "Ryan is a Rover!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
^ "Harry's here to stay!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 29 July 2023.
^ "Rovers sign Spurs starlet!". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
^ "Sigurdsson signs permanent Rovers deal". Blackburn Rovers FC. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
^ "Semir signs". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
^ "Vale signs new long-term deal". Blackburn Rovers Official Site. 24 October 2022.
^ "Pre-season plans taking shape". Blackburn Rovers FC. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 8 April 2022.

v t e Blackburn Rovers Football Club
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Related articles	East Lancashire derby Blackburn Rovers L.F.C. Radio Rovers Burial of the Coffin
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v t e Blackburn Rovers F.C. seasons
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Blackburn Rovers F.C. seasons

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2024–25

2024–25 in English men's football

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2025–26 »

National teams

Senior (2026 FIFA World Cup qualification)
U21 (UEFA Euro 2025 finals)
U20 (UEFA Euro 2025 qualification)
U17 (UEFA Euro 2025 qualification)

League
competitions

Level 1	Premier League
Levels 2–4	English Football League (Championship, League One, League Two, play-offs)
Levels 5–6	National League (National, North, South)
Levels 7–8	Isthmian League (Premier, One North, One South Central, One South East) Northern Premier League (Premier, One East, One Midlands, One West) Southern League (Premier Central, Premier South, One Central, One South)
Levels 9–10	Combined Counties League (Premier North, Premier South, One) Eastern Counties League (Premier, One North, One South) Essex Senior League (level 9 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One) Midland League (Premier, One) Northern Counties East League (Premier, One) Northern League (One, Two) North West Counties League (Premier, One North, One South) Southern Combination League (Premier, One) Southern Counties East League (Premier, One) South West Peninsula League (Premier East, Premier West - level 10 only) Spartan South Midlands League (Premier, One) United Counties League (Premier North, Premier South, One) Wessex League (Premier, One) Western League (Premier, One)

Cup
competitions

FA cups	FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final) FA Community Shield FA Trophy (Final) FA Vase (Final)
EFL cups	EFL Cup (Final) EFL Trophy (Final)

Youth
competitions

Under-21	Professional U21 Development League Premier League Cup Premier League International Cup
Under-18	Professional U18 Development League FA Youth Cup

Club seasons
Premier League	Arsenal Aston Villa Bournemouth Brentford Brighton & Hove Albion Chelsea Crystal Palace Everton Fulham Ipswich Town Leicester City Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Nottingham Forest Southampton Tottenham Hotspur West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship	Blackburn Rovers Bristol City Burnley Cardiff City Coventry City Derby County Hull City Leeds United Luton Town Middlesbrough Millwall Norwich City Oxford United Plymouth Argyle Portsmouth Preston North End Queens Park Rangers Sheffield United Sheffield Wednesday Stoke City Sunderland Swansea City Watford West Bromwich Albion
League One	Barnsley Birmingham City Blackpool Bolton Wanderers Bristol Rovers Burton Albion Cambridge United Charlton Athletic Crawley Town Exeter City Huddersfield Town Leyton Orient Lincoln City Mansfield Town Northampton Town Peterborough United Reading Rotherham United Shrewsbury Town Stevenage Stockport County Wigan Athletic Wrexham Wycombe Wanderers
League Two	Accrington Stanley AFC Wimbledon Barrow Bradford City Bromley Carlisle United Cheltenham Town Chesterfield Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Doncaster Rovers Fleetwood Town Gillingham Grimsby Town Harrogate Town Milton Keynes Dons Morecambe Newport County Notts County Port Vale Salford City Swindon Town Tranmere Rovers Walsall