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.
Season summary May
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
June
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.
On 28 June 2023, Rovers announced u21 midfielder Isaac Whitehall had signed a new contract, a 1-year deal until 2024.
July
On 10 July 2023, Rovers announced defender Joe Rankin-Costello had signed a new long-term contract, a 4-year deal until 2027.
On 29 July 2023, Rovers announced striker Harry Leonard had signed a new long-term contract, a 4-year deal until 2027.
August
On 3 August 2023, Rovers announced u21 goalkeeper Felix Goddard had signed a new 2-year deal until 2025.
September
On 29 September 2023, Rovers announced u18 defender Tom Atcheson had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2 and half year deal until 2026.
November
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.
December
January
February
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
March
On 18 March 2024, Rovers announced u21 goalkeeper Nicholas Michalski had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026
April
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.
May
On 4 May 2024, Sammie Szmodics was presented with the Championships Golden Boot award.
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. Rovers also announced club secretary Ian Silvester had left the club & have appointed Brett Baker as head of football administration.
On 15 May 2024, Rovers announced u21 midfielder James Edmondson had signed a new contract, a 3-year deal until 2027.
On 17 May 2024, Rovers announced u18 forward Joe Boggan had signed his 1st professional contract, a 2-year deal until 2026.
On 18 May 2024, Rovers announced Director of Football Gregg Broughton had left the club by mutual consent.
Backroom staff Backroom staff last updated on 9 February 2024. List is representative of staff available on rovers.co.uk.
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. Player Date of birth (age) Year joined Contract expires Joined from Other Ref. Goalkeepers1GKAynsley Pears 20202027 Middlesbrough 12GKLeopold Wahlstedt 20232026 Odd 34GKJoe Hilton 20192025 Everton On loan at Macclesfield 35GKJordan Eastham 20182025Academy on loan at Hyde United 38GKNicholas Michalski 20232026Academy Defenders 2DFCallum Brittain 20222026 Barnsley 3DFHarry Pickering 20212027 (+1) Crewe Alexandra Option for 12-month extension 4DFConnor O'Riordan 20242028 Crewe Alexandra 5DFDominic Hyam 20222025 Coventry City 14DFBilly Koumetio 20242024 Liverpool On loan for the 2023–24 season 15DFPatrick Gamble 20102025 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 16DFScott Wharton 20102027Academy 17DFHayden Carter 20142027Academy 25DFJake Batty 20212025Academy 26DFSam Barnes 20122024 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 31DFTom Atcheson 20232026Academy 40DFRhys Doherty 20172024Academy 41DFLeo Duru 20152026 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 45DFBen Chrisene 20242024 Aston Villa On loan for the 2023–24 season 55DFKyle McFadzean 20242024 Coventry City Midfielders 6MFSondre Tronstad 20232026 Vitesse 7MFArnór Sigurðsson 20232025 CSKA Moscow 8MFSammie Szmodics 20222026 (+1) Peterborough United Option for 12-month extension 10MFTyrhys Dolan 20202024 (+1) Preston North End Option for 12-month extension 11MFJoe Rankin-Costello 20142027Academy 19MFRyan Hedges 20222025 (+1) Aberdeen Option for 12-month extension 21MFJohn Buckley 20062027Academy 22MFZak Gilsenan 20192025 (+1) Liverpool Option for 12-month extension 23MFJohn Fleck 20242024 Sheffield United 24MFAndrew Moran 20232024 Brighton & Hove Albion On loan for the 2023–24 season 27MFLewis Travis 20142026Academy on loan at Ipswich Town 28MFCharlie Weston 20192024Academy on loan at Kidderminster Harriers 30MFJake Garrett 20132027Academy 36MFJames Edmondson 20112027Academy 39MFKristi Montgomery 20132026 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension 42MFRory Finneran 2016Academy 44MFYasin Ayari 20242024 Brighton & Hove Albion On loan for the 2023–24 season Forwards 9FW Sam Gallagher 20192024 (+1) Southampton Option for 12-month extension 18FW Dilan Markanday 20222025 (+1) Tottenham Hotspur Option for 12-month extension 20FWHarry Leonard 20132027Academy 29FWJack Vale20172025 (+1)Academy Option for 12-month extension, On loan at Motherwell 32FW Igor Tyjon 2023Academy 33FW Semir Telalović 20232026 (+1) Borussia Mönchengladbach Option for 12-month extension 37FW Tom Bloxham 20232025 Tottenham Hotspur On loan at Harrogate Town
Transfers In DatePosPlayerTransferred fromFeeRefOther 15 May 2023 MF Nathan Dlamini Aston Villa Free Transfer Signed for Blackburn Rovers U18's 21 June 2023 AM Arnór Sigurðsson CSKA Moscow End of Season 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 1 July 2023 CM Sondre Tronstad Vitesse Free Transfer 1 July 2023 LW Tom Bloxham Tottenham Hotspur Free Transfer Signed for Blackburn Rovers U21's 8 August 2023 GK Leopold Wahlstedt Odds Undisclosed 1 September 2023 CF Semir Telalović Borussia Mönchengladbach Undisclosed 1 January 2024 AM Arnór Sigurðsson CSKA Moscow Free Transfer 24 January 2024 CB Connor O'Riordan Crewe Alexandra Undisclosed 31 January 2024 CB Kyle McFadzean Coventry City Free Transfer 1 February 2024 CM John Fleck Sheffield United Free Transfer
Out DatePosPlayerTransferred toFeeRef 30 June 2023 CB Daniel Ayala Rotherham United Released 30 June 2023 GK Will Blease Unattached Released 30 June 2023 LW Ben Brereton Diaz Villarreal Released 30 June 2023 CF Sam Burns Panachaiki Released 30 June 2023 CF Danny Butterworth Carlisle United Released 30 June 2023 CF George Chmiel Barnoldswick Town Released 30 June 2023 AM Bradley Dack Sunderland Released 30 June 2023 GK Aidan Dowling Larne Released 30 June 2023 RB Dan Pike Tranmere Rovers Released 30 June 2023 CB Ryan Wilson Sheffield Wednesday Released 7 July 2023 RB James Brown Ross County Free Transfer 25 July 2023 LB Tayo Edun Charlton Athletic Undisclosed 3 August 2023 GK Thomas Kaminski Luton Town Undisclosed 5 August 2023 CB Ash Phillips Tottenham Hotspur Undisclosed 1 February 2024 CM Adam Wharton Crystal Palace Undisclosed 1 February 2024 CF Niall Ennis Stoke City Undisclosed
Loans in DatePosPlayerLoaned fromOn loan untilRefOther 26 August 2023 AM Andrew Moran Brighton & Hove Albion End of Season 31 August 2023 CB James Hill Bournemouth 10 January 2024 5 January 2024 CM Yasin Ayari Brighton & Hove Albion End of Season 5 January 2024 LB Ben Chrisene Aston Villa End of Season 1 February 2024 CB Billy Koumetio Liverpool End of Season
Loans out DatePosPlayerLoaned toOn loan untilRefOther 3 August 2023 GK Felix Goddard Marine 30 December 2023 9 August 2023 CM Jared Harlock The New Saints End of Season 1 September 2023 CM John Buckley Sheffield Wednesday 2 January 2024 1 September 2023 LB Georgie Gent Motherwell End of Season 1 September 2023 CF Jack Vale Lincoln City 5 January 2024 1 September 2023 LW Ethan Walker Morecambe 2 January 2024 9 November 2023 CB Jalil Saadi Marine 15 January 2024 2 January 2024 LW Ethan Walker Oldham Athletic End of Season 5 January 2024 CM Lewis Travis Ipswich Town End of Season 6 January 2024 GK Jordan Eastham Hyde United End of Season 31 January 2024 CF Jack Vale Motherwell End of Season 1 February 2024 LW Tom Bloxham Harrogate Town End of Season 23 February 2024 GK Joe Hilton Macclesfield End of Season 19 March 2024 CM Charlie Weston Kidderminster Harriers End of Season
Pre-season and friendlies On May 26, Blackburn announced their first pre-season fixture, against Accrington Stanley. Two further friendlies were added to the schedule on 5 June, against Fleetwood Town and Barnsley. A day later, another two additions were added to the pre-season calendar, Stockport County and Girona. A pre-season training camp in Austria was also announced, along with a friendly against TSV Hartberg.
Competitions Overall record
Championship
League table
Results summary
Results by round
Matches On 22 June, the EFL Championship fixtures were released.
FA Cup