2023–24 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season

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Blackburn Rovers

2023–24 season
Owner	Venkys London Ltd
CEO	Steve Waggott
Head coach	Jon Dahl Tomasson (until 9 February)[1] John Eustace (from 9 February)[2]
Stadium	Ewood Park
Championship	19th
FA Cup	Fifth round
EFL Cup	Fourth round
Top goalscorer	League: Sammie Szmodics (27) All: Sammie Szmodics (33)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2022–23 2024–25 →

The 2023–24 season was the 136th season in the existence of Blackburn Rovers Football Club and the club's sixth consecutive season in the Championship. In addition to the domestic league, they also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.

On 19 May 2023, Rovers confirmed their retained list for the 2023–24 season. The club confirmed Bradley Dack, Ben Brereton Diaz, Daniel Ayala, Danny Butterworth, Dan Pike, Sam Burns, Aidan Dowling, George Chmiel, Will Blease & Ryan Wilson will all leave the club when their contracts end on 30 June. Jared Harlock, Lenni Cirino & Alex Baker have all had their contracts extended by a further 12 months, whilst Zak Gilsenan, Patrick Gamble and Isaac Whitehall have been offered new contracts. The following scholars have also been offered their first professional contracts with the club Dominik Biniek, Adam Caddick, Leo Duru, Ben Fyles and Charlie Olson.^[3]

On 22 May 2023, Rovers announced academy defender Charlie Olson had signed his 1st professional contract, a 1-year deal until 2024 with the option of a further 12 months.^[4]

On 23 May 2023, Rovers announced academy midfielder Adam Caddick had signed his 1st professional contract, a 1-year deal until 2024 with the option of a further 12 months.^[5]

On 24 May 2023, Rovers announced academy midfielder Ben Fyles had signed his 1st professional contract, a 1-year deal until 2024 with the option of a further 12 months.^[6]

On 25 May 2023, Rovers announced academy defender Leo Duru had signed his 1st professional contract, a 1-year deal until 2024 with the option of a further 12 months.^[7]

On 26 May 2023, Rovers announced academy forward Dominik Biniek had signed his 1st professional contract, a 1-year deal until 2024 with the option of a further 12 months.^[8]

On 27 May 2023, Rovers announced u21 defender Patrick Gamble had signed a new contract, a 2-year deal until 2025 with the option of a further 12 months.^[9]

On 19 June 2023, Rovers announced u21 attacker Zak Gilsenan had signed a new contract, a 2-year deal until 2025 with the option of a further 12 months.^[10]

On 28 June 2023, Rovers announced u21 midfielder Isaac Whitehall had signed a new contract, a 1-year deal until 2024.^[11]

On 10 July 2023, Rovers announced defender Joe Rankin-Costello had signed a new long-term contract, a 4-year deal until 2027.^[12]

On 29 July 2023, Rovers announced striker Harry Leonard had signed a new long-term contract, a 4-year deal until 2027.^[13]

On 3 August 2023, Rovers announced u21 goalkeeper Felix Goddard had signed a new 2-year deal until 2025.^[14]

On 29 September 2023, Rovers announced u18 defender Tom Atcheson had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2 and half year deal until 2026.^[15]

On 28 November 2023, Rovers announced midfielder Sammie Szmodics had signed a new contract, a 2 and half year deal until 2026, with the option of a further 12 months.^[16]

On 2 February 2024, Rovers announced u21 midfielder Kristi Montgomery had signed a new contract, a 2 and half year deal until 2026, with the option of a further 12 months.^[17]

On 8 February 2024, Rovers announced they had been unsuccessful in attempts to sign Duncan McGuire on loan from MLS side Orlando City, A deal had been agreed between the two clubs on February 1 for the player to join on loan until the end of the season, with a view to making the move permanent in the summer but despite all relevant paperwork being completed and uploaded onto the system in good time, the signed registration documents were not submitted prior to the 11pm deadline.^[18]

On 9 February 2024, Rovers announced Jon Dahl Tomasson had left his position as Head Coach by mutual consent along with assistant coach Remy Reynierse, with immediate effect.^[19] Rovers announced John Eustace as the new Head Coach, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. He will be joined by Matt Gardiner who will be his assistant coach.^[20]

On 24 February 2024, Rovers announced Keith Downing as John Eustace's assistant coach alongside Matt Gardiner, also Ben Rosen will leave the club at the end of the month, with Karl Hodges stepping up as interim Head of Performance.^[21]

On 18 March 2024, Rovers announced u21 goalkeeper Nick Michalski had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026^[22]

On 23 April 2024, Rovers announced Sammie Szmodics had been voted Player of the Season & also voted Players Player of the Season, he also won most Player of the Match award shared with Scott Wharton, Ryan Hedges's goal against Watford was voted Goal of the Season & Sondre Tronstad was named Newcomer of the year.^[23]

On 4 May 2024, Sammie Szmodics was presented with the Championships Golden Boot award.^[24]

On 13 May 2024, Rovers announced u21 defender Leo Duru had signed a new contract, a 2-year deal until 2026, with the option of a further 12 months.^[25] Rovers also announced Club Secretary Ian Silvester had left the club & have appointed Brett Baker as head of football administration.^[26]

On 15 May 2024, Rovers announced u21 midfielder James Edmondson had signed a new contract, a 3-year deal until 2027.^[27]

On 17 May 2024, Rovers announced u18 forward Joe Boggan had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026.^[28]

On 18 May 2024, Rovers announced Director of Football Gregg Broughton had left the club by mutual consent.^[29]

Backroom staff last updated on 9 February 2024. List is representative of staff available on rovers.co.uk.^[30]

Position	Staff
Director of Football	Gregg Broughton
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

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.^[31]

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.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Year joined	Contract expires	Joined from	Other	Ref.
Goalkeepers
1	GK		Aynsley Pears	(1998-04-23) 23 April 1998 (age 26)	2020	2027	Middlesbrough		[32]
12	GK		Leopold Wahlstedt	(1999-07-04) 4 July 1999 (age 25)	2023	2026	Odd		[33]
34	GK		Joe Hilton	(1999-10-11) 11 October 1999 (age 25)	2019	2025	Everton	On loan at Macclesfield	[34]
35	GK		Jordan Eastham	(2001-09-08) 8 September 2001 (age 23)	2018	2025	Academy	on loan at Hyde United	[35]
38	GK		Nicholas Michalski	(2007-03-14) 14 March 2007 (age 17)	2023	2026	Academy		[22]
Defenders
2	DF		Callum Brittain	(1998-03-12) 12 March 1998 (age 26)	2022	2026	Barnsley		[36]
3	DF		Harry Pickering	(1998-12-29) 29 December 1998 (age 25)	2021	2027 (+1)	Crewe Alexandra	Option for 12-month extension	[37]
4	DF		Connor O'Riordan	(2003-10-19) 19 October 2003 (age 21)	2024	2028	Crewe Alexandra		[38]
5	DF		Dominic Hyam	(1995-12-20) 20 December 1995 (age 28)	2022	2025	Coventry City		[39]
14	DF		Billy Koumetio	(2002-11-14) 14 November 2002 (age 21)	2024	2024	Liverpool	On loan for the 2023–24 season	[40]
15	DF		Patrick Gamble	(2003-10-03) 3 October 2003 (age 21)	2010	2025 (+1)	Academy	Option for 12-month extension	[9]
16	DF		Scott Wharton	(1997-10-03) 3 October 1997 (age 27)	2010	2027	Academy		[41]
17	DF		Hayden Carter	(1999-12-17) 17 December 1999 (age 24)	2014	2027	Academy		[42]
25	DF		Jake Batty	(2005-04-05) 5 April 2005 (age 19)	2021	2025	Academy		[43]
26	DF		Sam Barnes	(2001-03-10) 10 March 2001 (age 23)	2012	2024 (+1)	Academy	Option for 12-month extension	[44]
31	DF		Tom Atcheson	(2006-10-22) 22 October 2006 (age 18)	2023	2026	Academy		[15]
40	DF		Rhys Doherty	(2005-12-30) 30 December 2005 (age 18)	2017	2024	Academy		[45]
41	DF		Leo Duru	(2005-01-12) 12 January 2005 (age 19)	2015	2026 (+1)	Academy	Option for 12-month extension	[25]
45	DF		Ben Chrisene	(2004-01-12) 12 January 2004 (age 20)	2024	2024	Aston Villa	On loan for the 2023–24 season	[46]
55	DF		Kyle McFadzean	(1987-02-28) 28 February 1987 (age 37)	2024	2024	Coventry City		[47]
Midfielders
6	MF		Sondre Tronstad	(1995-08-26) 26 August 1995 (age 29)	2023	2026	Vitesse		[48]
7	MF		Arnór Sigurðsson	(1999-05-15) 15 May 1999 (age 25)	2023	2025	CSKA Moscow		[49]
8	MF		Sammie Szmodics	(1995-09-24) 24 September 1995 (age 29)	2022	2026 (+1)	Peterborough United	Option for 12-month extension	[16]
10	MF		Tyrhys Dolan	(2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 (age 22)	2020	2024 (+1)	Preston North End	Option for 12-month extension	[50]
11	MF		Joe Rankin-Costello	(1999-07-26) 26 July 1999 (age 25)	2014	2027	Academy		[12]
19	MF		Ryan Hedges	(1995-07-08) 8 July 1995 (age 29)	2022	2025 (+1)	Aberdeen	Option for 12-month extension	[51]
21	MF		John Buckley	(1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 (age 25)	2006	2027	Academy		[52]
22	MF		Zak Gilsenan	(2003-05-08) 8 May 2003 (age 21)	2019	2025 (+1)	Liverpool	Option for 12-month extension	[10]
23	MF		John Fleck	(1991-08-24) 24 August 1991 (age 33)	2024	2024	Sheffield United		[53]
24	MF		Andrew Moran	(2003-10-15) 15 October 2003 (age 21)	2023	2024	Brighton & Hove Albion	On loan for the 2023–24 season	[54]
27	MF		Lewis Travis	(1997-10-16) 16 October 1997 (age 27)	2014	2026	Academy	on loan at Ipswich Town	[55]
28	MF		Charlie Weston	(2004-07-13) 13 July 2004 (age 20)	2019	2024	Academy	on loan at Kidderminster Harriers	[56]
30	MF		Jake Garrett	(2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 21)	2013	2027	Academy		[57]
36	MF		James Edmondson	(2005-11-01) 1 November 2005 (age 19)	2011	2027	Academy		[27]
39	MF		Kristi Montgomery	(2004-05-31) 31 May 2004 (age 20)	2013	2026 (+1)	Academy	Option for 12-month extension	[17]
42	MF		Rory Finneran	(2008-02-29) 29 February 2008 (age 16)	2016		Academy
44	MF		Yasin Ayari	(2003-10-06) 6 October 2003 (age 21)	2024	2024	Brighton & Hove Albion	On loan for the 2023–24 season	[58]
Forwards
9	FW		Sam Gallagher	(1995-09-15) 15 September 1995 (age 29)	2019	2024 (+1)	Southampton	Option for 12-month extension	[59]
18	FW		Dilan Markanday	(2001-08-20) 20 August 2001 (age 23)	2022	2025 (+1)	Tottenham Hotspur	Option for 12-month extension	[60]
20	FW		Harry Leonard	(2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 21)	2013	2027	Academy		[13]
29	FW		Jack Vale	(2001-03-03) 3 March 2001 (age 23)	2017	2025 (+1)	Academy	Option for 12-month extension, On loan at Motherwell	[61]
32	FW		Igor Tyjon	(2008-03-20) 20 March 2008 (age 16)	2023		Academy
33	FW		Semir Telalović	(1999-12-23) 23 December 1999 (age 24)	2023	2026 (+1)	Borussia Mönchengladbach	Option for 12-month extension	[62]
37	FW		Tom Bloxham	(2005-04-30) 30 April 2005 (age 19)	2023	2025	Tottenham Hotspur	On loan at Harrogate Town	[63]

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Ref	Other
15 May 2023	MF	Nathan Dlamini	Aston Villa	Free Transfer	[64]	Signed for Blackburn Rovers U18's
21 June 2023	AM	Arnór Sigurðsson	CSKA Moscow	End of Season	[65]	Joins until the end of season after exercising his right to move clubs in accordance with current FIFA regulations
1 July 2023	CF	Niall Ennis	Plymouth Argyle	Free Transfer	[66]
1 July 2023	CM	Sondre Tronstad	Vitesse	Free Transfer	[48]
1 July 2023	LW	Tom Bloxham	Tottenham Hotspur	Free Transfer	[63]	Signed for Blackburn Rovers U21's
8 August 2023	GK	Leopold Wahlstedt	Odds	Undisclosed	[33]
1 September 2023	CF	Semir Telalović	Borussia Mönchengladbach	Undisclosed	[62]
1 January 2024	AM	Arnór Sigurðsson	CSKA Moscow	Free Transfer	[49]
24 January 2024	CB	Connor O'Riordan	Crewe Alexandra	Undisclosed	[38]
31 January 2024	CB	Kyle McFadzean	Coventry City	Free Transfer	[47]
1 February 2024	CM	John Fleck	Sheffield United	Free Transfer	[53]

Date	Pos	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Ref
30 June 2023	CB	Daniel Ayala	Rotherham United	Released	[67][3][68]
30 June 2023	GK	Will Blease	Unattached	Released	[3]
30 June 2023	LW	Ben Brereton Diaz	Villarreal	Released	[69][3][70]
30 June 2023	CF	Sam Burns	Panachaiki	Released	[3][71]
30 June 2023	CF	Danny Butterworth	Carlisle United	Released	[72][3][73]
30 June 2023	CF	George Chmiel	Barnoldswick Town	Released	[3]
30 June 2023	AM	Bradley Dack	Sunderland	Released	[74][3][75]
30 June 2023	GK	Aidan Dowling	Larne	Released	[3][76]
30 June 2023	RB	Dan Pike	Tranmere Rovers	Released	[3][77]
30 June 2023	CB	Ryan Wilson	Sheffield Wednesday	Released	[3][78]
7 July 2023	RB	James Brown	Ross County	Free Transfer	[79]
25 July 2023	LB	Tayo Edun	Charlton Athletic	Undisclosed	[80]
3 August 2023	GK	Thomas Kaminski	Luton Town	Undisclosed	[81]
5 August 2023	CB	Ash Phillips	Tottenham Hotspur	Undisclosed	[82]
1 February 2024	CM	Adam Wharton	Crystal Palace	Undisclosed	[83]
1 February 2024	CF	Niall Ennis	Stoke City	Undisclosed	[84]

Date	Pos	Player	Loaned from	On loan until	Ref	Other
26 August 2023	AM	Andrew Moran	Brighton & Hove Albion	End of Season	[54]
31 August 2023	CB	James Hill	Bournemouth	10 January 2024[a]	[85][86]
5 January 2024	CM	Yasin Ayari	Brighton & Hove Albion	End of Season	[58]
5 January 2024	LB	Ben Chrisene	Aston Villa	End of Season	[46]
1 February 2024	CB	Billy Koumetio	Liverpool	End of Season	[40]

Date	Pos	Player	Loaned to	On loan until	Ref	Other
3 August 2023	GK	Felix Goddard	Marine	30 December 2023[a]	[14][87]
9 August 2023	CM	Jared Harlock	The New Saints	End of Season	[88]
1 September 2023	CM	John Buckley	Sheffield Wednesday	2 January 2024[b]	[89][90]
1 September 2023	LB	Georgie Gent	Motherwell	End of Season	[91]
1 September 2023	CF	Jack Vale	Lincoln City	5 January 2024[c]	[92][93]
1 September 2023	LW	Ethan Walker	Morecambe	2 January 2024[d]	[94]
9 November 2023	CB	Jalil Saadi	Marine	15 January 2024	[95][96]
2 January 2024	LW	Ethan Walker	Oldham Athletic	End of Season	[97]
5 January 2024	CM	Lewis Travis	Ipswich Town	End of Season	[98]
6 January 2024	GK	Jordan Eastham	Hyde United	End of Season	[99]
31 January 2024	CF	Jack Vale	Motherwell	End of Season	[100]
1 February 2024	LW	Tom Bloxham	Harrogate Town	End of Season	[101]
23 February 2024	GK	Joe Hilton	Macclesfield	End of Season	[102]
19 March 2024	CM	Charlie Weston	Kidderminster Harriers	End of Season	[103]

On May 26, Blackburn announced their first pre-season fixture, against Accrington Stanley.^[104] Two further friendlies were added to the schedule on 5 June, against Fleetwood Town and Barnsley.^[105] A day later, another two additions were added to the pre-season calendar, Stockport County and Girona.^[106] A pre-season training camp in Austria was also announced, along with a friendly against TSV Hartberg.^[107]

TSV Hartberg v Blackburn Rovers

15 July 2023 Friendly	TSV Hartberg	0–6	Blackburn Rovers	Hartberg, Austria
10:30 CEST 09:30 BST		Report	Rankin-Costello 32', 52', 65' (pen.) Leonard 47' Hedges 48' Travis 59'	Stadium: Profertil Arena Hartberg
Note: Match one of two 70-minute matches

TSV Hartberg v Blackburn Rovers

15 July 2023 Friendly	TSV Hartberg	1–4	Blackburn Rovers	Hartberg, Austria
14:00 CEST 13:00 BST	Entrup 57'	Report	Hyam 7' Szmodics 26' Weston 35' Gallagher 65'	Stadium: Profertil Arena Hartberg
Note: Match two of two 70-minute matches

Barnsley v Blackburn Rovers

22 July 2023 Friendly	Barnsley	3–4	Blackburn Rovers	Brockhall Village
15:00 BST	Norwood 68', 80' Cole 90'	Report	Leonard 62' Buckley 72' (pen) Gilsenan 74' Bloxham 84'	Stadium: Brockhall Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)

Stockport County v Blackburn Rovers

28 July 2023 Friendly	Stockport County	0–1	Blackburn Rovers	Stockport
19:30 BST		Report	Gilsenan 71'	Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 2,460 (878 away)

Blackburn Rovers v Girona

29 July 2023 Friendly	Blackburn Rovers	2–3	Girona	Blackburn
15:00 BST	Leonard 37' Markanday 67'	Report	Stuani 24' Tsyhankov 30' Blind 51'	Stadium: Ewood Park

On 22 June, the EFL Championship fixtures were released.^[109]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion

5 August 2023 1	Blackburn Rovers	2–1	West Bromwich Albion	Blackburn
15:00 BST	Markanday 20' Leonard 22' Travis  29' Szmodics  30' Carter  48' Hedges  87'	Report	Yokuşlu  45+4' Phillips 50' Kipré  53' Wallace  55'	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 16,741 Referee: Dean Whitestone

Rotherham United v Blackburn Rovers

12 August 2023 2	Rotherham United	2–2	Blackburn Rovers	Rotherham
15:00 BST	Odoffin 23' Cafú  33' Lembikisa  45+1' Onyedinma 48'  49'  50' Johansson  55'	Report	Szmodics 15'  38' 75', 78'	Stadium: AESSEAL New York Stadium Attendance: 10,828 Referee: Bobby Madley

Watford v Blackburn Rovers

27 August 2023 4	Watford	0–1	Blackburn Rovers	Watford
12:00 BST	Hoedt  24' Louza  69' Andrews  69'	Report	Hyam  63' Hedges 72' Rankin-Costello  77'	Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 17,810 Referee: Gavin Ward

West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers

13 January 2024 27	West Bromwich Albion	4–1	Blackburn Rovers	West Bromwich
15:00 GMT	Fellows 11' Thomas-Asante 30', 63' Hyam 33' (o.g.) Bartley  40' Kipre  43'	Report	Garrett 60'	Stadium: Hawthorns Attendance: 24,409 (1,258 away) Referee: Stephen Martin