The 21 former Blackburn Rovers players facing uncertain futures

Here is a look at which former Rovers players will be looking for a new club this summer.

Phil Jones (Manchester United)

The most high-profile, Jones said he will take time to consider his decision after his 12-year stay with Manchester United comes to an end. He failed to make an appearance in 2022/23, with the 31-year-old now deciding his next move after a serious of injuries hampered his time at Old Trafford.

Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Norwich City have been linked with a free transfer move for the Irishman who is set to leave Brighton after seven years with the club. The 32-year-old has played 150 times for Brighton, who he joined from Rovers in 2016, but has spent the last two seasons out on loan with Celtic and Fulham.

Todd Kane (Coventry City)

The right back finished the season on loan at Charlton Athletic, with his exit after two years with Coventry now confirmed. Now 29, Kane, who spent 18 months on loan at Rovers between 2013 and 2014, played 41 times for the Sky Blues who he joined in 2021 from QPR.

Lucas Joao (Reading)

The 29-year-old heads Reading’s departure list following their relegation from the Championship. He has scored twice for the Royals, including back in August, against Rovers where he had a brief loan spell in 2017. Joao joined Reading in 2019 and has now spent the last eight seasons in English football.

Ryan Nyambe (Wigan Athletic)

The Namibia international turned down the offer of a new contract at Ewood Park, later joining the Latics where he made 33 appearances. Wigan opted against triggering the one-year option in the 25-year-old’s contract following their relegation to League One, leaving the right back searching for a new club for the second successive summer.

Bradley Johnson (MK Dons)

The midfielder clocked up 45 appearances but leaves Stadium MK after one season with the club, which unfortunately culminated in relegation to League Two. Johnson had a spell as interim manager earlier in the season, but for the second successive summer, the 36-year-olds finds himself unattached.

Connor Ripley (Morecambe)

The ‘keeper, son of Rovers title-winner Stuart, started his career at Ewood but joined Middlesbrough aged 17. He was an ever-present for Morecambe in 2022/23, including a spell as captain, but leaves following their relegation to League Two. Has done a tour of the north west in recent seasons.

Ryan Tunnicliffe (Portsmouth)

The midfielder spent the first half of the 2014/15 season on loan at Rovers from Fulham. He has clocked up the appearances, and clubs, during his career which has seen him spend the last two years with Portsmouth, playing 69 times, but the 30-year-old now finds himself looking for a new home.

Sam Durrant (Sheffield Wednesday)

It has proven to be a bittersweet month for the 21-year-old who made his senior debut for the Owls on the final day of the regular season, but following their promotion back to the Championship, was released after a one-year stay at Hillsborough following his Ewood exit 12 months earlier.

Elliott Bennett (Shrewsbury Town)

The former Rovers captain, and League One promotion-winner, has seen his two-year stay with his hometown club come to an end. The 34-year-old will leave the Shrews after 83 appearances since joining the club in 2021 following his Rovers exit.

Joe Grayson (Barrow)

Grayson started the season on loan at Gary Bowyer’s Dundee, making 17 appearances before a mid-season switch to Stockport County where he failed to make an appearance. He leaves Barrow after 33 appearances since joining in 2021 from Rovers.

Yann Songo’o (Bradford City)

Songo’o made two league cup appearances for Rovers during his two-year stay, and leaves Bradford after the same timeframe, having finished the season on loan at Rochdale. The 31-year-old left Morecambe following their promotion in 2021 and went on to play 63 times for the Bantams.

Alan Judge (Colchester United)

Judge’s two-year stay with the Us is at an end, having not played in the second half of the season following ACL injury. The 34-year-old, who had two separate spells at Rovers having come through the club’s ranks, insists he wants to continue playing.

Jason Lowe (Salford City)

The former Rovers captain spent three years with Salford but leaves after 125 matches. He had one season with Birmingham City and two with Bolton Wanderers following his Rovers exit and has played in all four divisions.

Jacob Davenport (Stockport County)

Released by Rovers last summer, the 24-year-old has had a disappointing year, playing only 10 times across short-term spells with Lincoln City and Stockport. The midfielder played 36 times across an injury-hit four-year stay at Ewood Park and will be keen to be playing regularly soon.

Liam Feeney (Scunthorpe United)

The 36-year-old winger is searching for a new club after leaving the Iron following their relegation out of the National League. Feeney, who played 24 times in 2022/23, has been with the club for 18 months. The winger had two spells with Rovers, including a permanent one between 2016 and 2018.

Five former Rovers players have been offered new contracts by their respective clubs.

Amari’i Bell (Luton Town)

Fresh from helping the Hatters to promotion to the Premier League, left back Bell, released by Rovers in 2021, has been offered a new contract to stay at Kenilworth Road. Bell has made 97 appearances for the club, two fewer than he managed in his three-and-a-half year stay at Rovers.

Greg Cunningham (Preston North End)

The Irishman returned to Deepdale, where he previously enjoyed a successful three-year stay, in January 2021. He has been offered a new deal to stay on after 24 appearances last season. The left back played only 10 times for Rovers before injury cut short his loan stay in 2019/20.

Junior Hoilett (Reading)

Reading want to make the 32-year-old Rovers Academy graduate part of their League One rebuild. The Canada international, who played 92 times for Rovers before leaving in 2012, has been with Reading for two years and scored only once in 35 appearances last season, that coming in a 3-0 win over his former employers.

Frank Fielding (Stoke City)

Now 35, the goalkeeper has yet to make an appearance for the Potters since signing in December 2021, but the club are keen to retain his service. The former England youth international, and Rovers trainee, has had nine different clubs since leaving in 2011.

Stefan Mols (Warrington Town)

The midfielder left Rovers in 2021, having made one senior appearance, and has been with the Yellows since a move in 2022. He played 39 times in 2022/23, helping them win promotion to the National League North, with Warrington keen to retain his services.