The 2019–20 season was Blackburn Rovers' 132nd season as a professional football club and it participated in the Championship for a second consecutive season. Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. The season covered the period from 1 July 2019 to 22 July 2020.
Summer activity
May
On 11 May, Rovers announced that young defender Matthew Platt had signed a new one-year contract with the club until the summer of 2020.
On 14 May, Rovers reached decisions regarding players whose contracts are due to expire on 30 June.
Goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler has been informed that the option to extend his registration by a further year to June 2020 has been taken up by the club.
Discussions are currently taking place with Craig Conway, Jack Rodwell and Ben Gladwin regarding the possibility of extending their stays at Ewood Park.
Paul Downing, Jack Doyle, Lewis Mansell, Charlie Albinson, George Wilson (scholar) and Kyle Connell (scholar) will not be retained by the club upon the expiration of their current contracts at the end of next month.
On 25 May, Craig Conway announced via his Twitter account that he would be departing the club at the end of his current contract, bringing an end to his 5 & half year stay at the club.
June
On 13 June, Partick Thistle announced Lewis Mansell will join the club on 1 July when his Rovers contract ends, Mansell had previously been on loan at the club.
On 21 June, Rovers announced their first signing of the summer, midfielder Stuart Downing will join the club on 1 July when his Middlesbrough contract ends, he's signed a 12-month contract until 2020. On the same day, Portsmouth announced Paul Downing will join the club on 1 July when his Rovers contract ends.
On 30 June 2019 Jack Rodwell and Ben Gladwin's contracts expired without any agreement on new contracts. As such they are free agents.
July
On 1 July, Rovers announced the signing of 19 year old goalkeeper Joe Hilton following his release from Everton on a 2-year deal, he'll initially link up with the u23s.
On 2 July, Rovers announced under 23s head coach Damien Johnson has been promoted to the role of first team technical coach and head of player development.
On 5 July, Rovers announced the signing of midfielder Bradley Johnson from Derby County on a free transfer, he's signed a 2-year deal.
On 6 July, Rovers announced that goalkeeper David Raya had joined Brentford for an undisclosed fee. It was also revealed that Charlie Adam had been training with the club and he featured for Rovers in the second half of the friendly match against Barrow. Derby County midfielder Jacob Butterfield was also revealed to be training with the club.
On 9 July, Rovers announced the signing of young midfielder Tom White from Gateshead on a 2-year deal, he will initially link up with the u23s.
On 13 July, Rovers announced the signing of Southampton striker Sam Gallagher for an undisclosed fee, on a four-year deal. Also Southport announced the signing of goalkeeper Charlie Albinson following his release from Rovers.
On 22 July, Rovers announced that midfielder Lewis Travis had signed a new 4-year contract until 2023, with the option of a further 12 months.
On 23 July, Rovers announced that goalkeeper Christian Walton had joined on loan until the end of the season from Brighton & Hove Albion.
On 26 July, Rovers announced that defender Scott Wharton had signed a new deal until 2022 & joined Northampton Town on loan until the end of the season.
On 29 July, it was announced that Under-13 lead coach George Boateng had joined Aston Villa to take up a position as Under-18 lead coach.
On 31 July, Rovers announced that defender Tosin Adarabioyo had joined on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City.
August
On 1 August Southport announced the signing of defender Jack Doyle following his release from Rovers. Rovers also announced striker Joe Nuttall had joined Blackpool for undisclosed fee.
On 8 August Rovers announced that defender Tyler Magloire had joined Rochdale on loan until the end of the season, Rovers also announced defender Greg Cunningham had joined on loan from Cardiff City until the end of the season.
On 9 August Rovers announced that defender Charlie Mulgrew had joined Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the season.
On 19 August Rovers announced under 18s head coach Billy Barr had been promoted to head coach of the under 23s & Mike Sheron has agreed to take over as the new under 18s lead coach, having spent several seasons as professional development phase assistant coach at the club.
On 23 August Rovers announced goalkeeper Andy Fisher had joined Northampton Town on loan until 1 January 2020.
On 30 August Rovers announced that defender Matthew Platt had joined Barrow on loan until the end of the season,
September
On 13 September Rovers announced young defender Andy Jackson had joined Clitheroe on a months loan.
On 19 September Rovers announced the signing of attacking midfielder Lewis Holtby following his release from Hamburg on a 2-year deal.
October
On 4 October Rovers announced young forward Jack Vale had signed a long-term contract at the club until 2023.
November
On 15 November Rovers announced that defender Tom White had joined Barrow on loan until January.
Winter activity
December
January
On 2 January Rovers announced midfielder Ben Gladwin & defender Andy Jackson had been released.
On 10 January Milton Keynes Dons announced the signing of Ben Gladwin following his release from Rovers.
On 13 January Rovers announced midfielder Tom White had extended his loan at Barrow until the end of the season, Rovers also announced young defender Isaac Whitehall had signed a long-term contract at the club until 2022.
On 15 January Rovers announced defender Charlie Mulgrew had returned to the club from a loan spell at Wigan Athletic at the players request.
On 17 January Rovers announced defender Greg Cunningham had returned to parent club Cardiff City, Rovers also announced defender Sam Hart had joined Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the season.
On 29 January Rovers announced defender Tyler Magloire had been recalled from his loan from Rochdale.
On 31 January Rovers announced goalkeeper Andy Fisher had joined Milton Keynes Dons on loan until the end of the season.
February
On 1 February Rovers signed winger D'Margio Wright-Phillips on a youth loan from Manchester City until the end of the season, he is the son of Shaun Wright-Phillips.
March
On 5 March Rovers announced young striker Jack Vale had joined Barrow on loan until the end of the season, Rovers also announced young left back Lewis Thompson had joined AFC Fylde on loan until the end of the season.
On 13 March The EFL announced the season was suspended until 3 April 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Also Rovers announced young defender Jake Garrett had signed his 1st professional contract at the club until 2022.
April
May
June
On 9 June Rovers announced young central defender Hayden Carter & young left back Lewis Thompson had signed new contracts, Carter signed a 2-year contract until 2022 & Thompson signed a 1-year contract until 2021. Rovers also announced fellow academy graduates Jack Evans & Charley Doyle will not be retained by the club when their contracts expire at the end of the month.
On 15 June Rovers announced Scott Wharton will remain on loan at Northampton Town to play in the League Two playoffs.
On 19 June Rovers announced Christian Walton will remain on loan until the end of the extended season.
On 24 June Rovers announced their retained list Danny Graham, Stewart Downing, Dominic Samuel, Jayson Leutwiler, Richie Smallwood & Sam Hart have all signed contract extensions until the end of the current extended season & discussions will be held regarding their future at the club beyond the season.
From the development squad Rovers took the option to extend Matthew Platt contract by 12 months until 2021, whilst Brad Lyons & Ben Paton have both been offered new contracts, Jordan Eastham has signed a contract till 2022 while Sam Burns, Dan Pike, Jalil Saadi, Sam Durrant & James Connelly have signed contracts until 2021. Luke Brennan & Flavien Enzo Boyomo have been offered professional contracts but have yet to sign. Chanka Zimba, Jack Evans & Charley Doyle will not be retained by the club while D'Margio Wright-Phillips has returned to parent club Manchester City.
On 29 June Rovers announced Tosin Adarabioyo will remain on loan until the end of the extended season.
July
On 21 July Rovers announced Adam Armstrong's goal against Cardiff City had been voted goal of the season.
On 22 July Rovers announced Adam Armstrong had been voted player of the season.
On 23 July Rovers announced John Buckley had won young player of the year & Lewis Travis had won the Peter Jackson man of the match award.
Squad information Squad no. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Contract expires Other Goalkeepers 45Jordan EasthamGK 2022 33Andy FisherGK 2021 on loan at Milton Keynes Dons 40Joe HiltonGK 2021 13Jayson Leutwiler GK 2020 1Christian WaltonGK 2020 on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion Defenders 24Tosin AdarabioyoDF 2020 on loan from Manchester City 17Amari'i BellDF 2021 41Hayden CarterDF 2022 35Joe GraysonDF 2021 30Sam HartDF 2020 on loan at Shrewsbury Town 26Darragh LenihanDF 2022 38Tyler MagloireDF 2022 14Charlie MulgrewDF 2021 2Ryan NyambeDF 2021 36Matthew PlattDF 2021 on loan at Barrow Scott WhartonDF 2022 on loan at Northampton Town 3Derrick WilliamsDF 2021 Midfielders 31Elliott BennettMF 2021 39John BuckleyMF 2022 11Harry ChapmanMF 2021 23Bradley DackMF 2021 19Stewart DowningMF 2020 18Jacob DavenportMF 2022 29Corry EvansMF 2021 22Lewis HoltbyMF 2021 4Bradley JohnsonMF 2021 37Joe Rankin-CostelloMF 2021 8Joe RothwellMF 2021 6Richie SmallwoodMF 2020 27Lewis TravisMF 2023 Option for 12 months extension Forwards 7Adam ArmstrongFW 2022 20Ben BreretonFW 2022 34Daniel ButterworthFW 2022 9 Sam GallagherFW 2023 10Danny GrahamFW 2020 12Dominic SamuelFW 2020 44Jack ValeFW 2023
Pre-season and friendlies Pre-season Blackburn Rovers announced six pre-season friendlies against National League North's Barrow, EFL League One's Rochdale, newly promoted side Bury, and Blackpool, EFL League Two's Mansfield Town, and Scottish Premiership side Rangers.
Mid-season
Championship season
League table
Matchday On Thursday, 20 June 2019, the EFL Championship fixtures were revealed.
EFL Cup
The first round draw was made on 20 June. The second round draw was made on 13 August 2019 following the conclusion of all but one first-round matches.
FA Cup
Backroom staff
1st Team squad statistics
|colspan="14"|Players out on loan:
|colspan="14"|Players that played for Blackburn Rovers this season that have left the club:
Goalscorers
RankNo.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupEFL CupTotal17FW Adam Armstrong161017223MF Bradley Dack9011039FW Sam Gallagher6017410FW Danny Graham400453DF Derrick Williams3003=4MF Bradley Johnson3003=8MF Joe Rothwell2013=19MF Stuart Downing2013=22MF Lewis Holtby3003=24DF Tosin Adarabioyo3003=26DF Darragh Lenihan30031212MF Dominic Samuel2002=27MF Lewis Travis2002=39MF John Buckley20021520FW Ben Brereton1001=29MF Corry Evans1001——— Own goal4004Total661471
Transfers
Summer
Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. Other. 1 July 2019 LM Stewart Downing Middlesbrough Free transfer 1 July 2019 GK Joe Hilton Everton Free transfer Signed for Blackburn Rovers U23's 5 July 2019 CM Bradley Johnson Derby County Free Transfer 9 July 2019 MF Tom White Gateshead Undisclosed Signed for Blackburn Rovers U23's 13 July 2019 CF Sam Gallagher Southampton Undisclosed *(£5 million figure suggested) 19 September 2019 AM Lewis Holtby Hamburg Free transfer
Total outgoing: +/- ~£
Transfers out