The 2020–21 season was Blackburn Rovers' 133nd season as a professional football club and it participated in the Championship for a third consecutive season. Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and

EFL Cup The EFL Cup (referred to historically, and colloquially, as the League Cup), currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout competition and major trophy in men's domestic football in England. Organised by the ...

. The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Summer activity

June

On the 24 Rovers announced their retained list Danny Graham, Stewart Downing, Dominic Samuel, Jayson Leutwiler, Richie Smallwood & Sam Hart discussions will be held regarding their future at the club. From the development squad Rovers took the option to extend

Matthew Platt Matthew James Platt (born 3 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Notts County. Career Blackburn Rovers In November 2015 Platt signed a new professional contract at Blackburn Rovers penning a t ...

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 Flavien Enzo Thiédort Boyomo (born 7 October 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Spanish club CA Osasuna. Born in France, he represents the Cameroon national team. Early life Born in Toulouse, Boyomo is Cam ...

have been offered professional contracts but have yet to sign.

Chanka Zimba Chanka Solomon Zimba (born 29 December 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Marine. Early and personal life Zimba was born in Zambia. Career Zimba began his career with Blackburn Rovers; he was released ...

, Jack Evans & Charley Doyle will not be retained by the club.

July

On the 1 Rovers announced the signing of young attacking midfielder

Tyrhys Dolan Tyrhys Dolan (born 28 December 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Blackburn Rovers. Career Dolan initially joined the academy of Manchester City at the age of seven, but was released at the age of nin ...

from

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional football club in Preston, Lancashire, England, who currently play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league syste ...

on a 2-year deal following his release. Rovers also announced young winger Luke Brennan has signed his 1st professional deal, a 2-year contract until 2022, Also midfield duo Brad Lyons & Ben Paton signed 1 year deals until 2021. On the 7 Forest Green Rovers announced the signing of Jack Evans following his release from Rovers. On the 24 Rovers announced Danny Graham, Dominic Samuel, Jayson Leutwiler, Richie Smallwood & Sam Hart will not be offered new contracts by the club, Discussions continue to be held with Stewart Downing about extending his stay with Rovers. On the 28 Rovers announced u23 midfielder

Tom White Thomas, Tom or Tommy White may refer to: Entertainment * Thomas White (musician) (born 1984), British musician * ''Tom White'' (film), 2004 Australian drama film * Tommy White (artist), see List of Guggenheim Fellowships awarded in 2007 * Tommy W ...

had joined

Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers Football Club () is a professional football club based in Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in . The club played at Burnden Park for 102 years from 1895 after moving from their original home at Pike's ...

on loan until the end of the season. On the 29 Rovers announced u23 defender

had joined

Barrow Barrow may refer to: Places England * Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria ** Borough of Barrow-in-Furness, local authority encompassing the wider area ** Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency) * Barrow, Cheshire * Barrow, Gloucestershire * Barro ...

on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

August

On the 11 Hull City announced the signing of Richie Smallwood following his release from Rovers. On the 12

Atlético Albacete Club Atlético Albacete is a List of football clubs in Spain, Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded in 1962, they are the reserve team of Albacete Balompié and currently play in Primera ...

announced the signing of

after he rejected a new contract from Rovers. On the 16 Rovers confirmed their agreement with official principal sponsor 10bet had ended 2 years into a 3-year deal. On the 17 Rovers announced an extension to their partnership with Totally Wicked. On the 26 Rovers announced the signing of Belgium goalkeeper

Thomas Kaminski Thomas Kaminski (born 23 October 1992) is a Belgium, Belgian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for club Blackburn Rovers F.C., Blackburn Rovers. Club career Germinal B ...

from Gent for an undisclosed fee, on a 2-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. On the 28 Rovers announced Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors will remain our back-of-shirt sponsor for a third successive season. On the 29 Rovers announced a new multi year shirt sponsor with leading performance and recovery compression wear brand Recoverite Compression, The new deal will see the Recoverite Compression brand on the front of all first team, Under-23s, youth and replica kits.

September

On the 2 Rovers announced the signing of young striker Connor McBride from Celtic on a free transfer, he signed a 2-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. Also

Stalybridge Celtic Stalybridge Celtic Football Club is an English football club based in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. They are currently members of the and play at Bower Fold. The team traditionally plays in a blue and white strip. In 1921 Stalybridge Celtic ...

announced the signing of Charley Doyle following his release from Rovers. On the 4

Cardiff City Cardiff City Football Club ( cy, Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd) is a professional association football club based in Cardiff, Wales. It competes in the Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1899 as R ...

announced the signing of

following his release from Rovers. On the 7

Sunderland Sunderland () is a port city in Tyne and Wear, England. It is the City of Sunderland's administrative centre and in the Historic counties of England, historic county of County of Durham, Durham. The city is from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and is on t ...

announced the signing of Danny Graham following his release from Rovers. On the 11

Fleetwood Town Fleetwood Town Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Fleetwood, Lancashire. Established in 1997, the current Fleetwood Town F.C. is the fourth incarnation of the club; it was originally formed ...

announced the signing of Jayson Leutwiler following his release from Rovers. On the 15 Rovers announced the signing of defender

Daniel Ayala Daniel Sánchez Ayala (born 7 November 1990) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Blackburn Rovers. His first club was Premier League club Liverpool, where he spent two seasons as a reserve. He joined No ...

following his release from Middlesbrough on a 3-year deal until 2023. On the 21 Gillingham announced the signing of Dominic Samuel following his release from Rovers. On the 28 Rovers announced the signing of young goalkeeper Felix Goddard following his release from

Manchester City Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The tw ...

on a 2-year scholarship.

October

On the 6 Rovers announced u23 midfielder Stefan Mols had joined Intercity on loan until the end of the season. Also Rovers announced the signing of Greek u21 goalkeeper

Antonis Stergiakis Antonis Stergiakis ( gr, Αντώνης Στεργιάκης; born 16 March 1999) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Super League club Panetolikos. Club career Slavia Sofia After spending time at Aris' academie ...

from Slavia Sofia on a 3-year deal until 2023 with the option of a further 12 months. On the 16 Rovers announced the signing of defender

Barry Douglas Barry James Douglas (born 4 September 1989) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Ekstraklasa club Lech Poznań. After playing for Queen's Park and Dundee United F.C., Dundee United in Scotland, he joined Polish c ...

on loan from Leeds United until the end of the season, Rovers also announced the signing of midfielder

Tom Trybull Tom Trybull (born 9 March 1993) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Blackpool. He was a youth international for Germany on multiple levels. Career On 30 September 2016, Trybull scored his first league goal ...

on loan from Norwich City until the end of the season, Rovers also announced defender Charlie Mulgrew had joined

on loan until the end of the season, Rovers also announced the signing of goalkeeper

Aynsley Pears Aynsley Alan William Pears (born 23 April 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Blackburn Rovers. Early life Pears is the son of former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Stephen Pears. Club career Middlesbroug ...

from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee on a 4-year deal until 2024, Rovers also announced goalkeeper Andy Fisher had joined Milton Keynes Dons on a permanent deal, Rovers also announced the signing of Harvey Elliott on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season.

November

On the 2 Rovers announced midfielder Stewart Downing had rejoined the club. On the 9 Rovers announced defender Tyler Magloire had joined Hartlepool United on loan until 9 January. On the 11 Southend United announced the signing of Sam Hart following his release from Rovers. On the 13 Rovers announced winger Luke Brennan had joined AFC Fylde on loan until the end of the season.

Winter activity

December

On the 23 Rovers announced attacking midfielder

Bradley Dack Bradley Paul Dack (born 31 December 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Blackburn Rovers. He will leave the club at the end of June 2023. Early life Dack was born in the London Borough of Greenwich, and att ...

had signed new 2 and half year deal until 2023, with the option of a further 12 months. On the 31 Rovers announced winger Harry Chapman had joined Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the season.

January

On the 6 Rovers announced midfielder Brad Lyons had joined

Morecambe Morecambe ( ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the City of Lancaster district in Lancashire, England. It is in Morecambe Bay on the Irish Sea. Name The first use of the name was by John Whitaker in his ''History of Manchester'' (1771), w ...

on loan until the end of the season, Also defender Hayden Carter joined Burton Albion on loan until the end of the season. On the 12 Rovers announced goalkeeper Joe Hilton had joined

on an emergency 7 day loan. On the 13 Rovers announced midfielder Luke Brennan had been recalled from his loan at AFC Fylde. On the 14 Rovers announced the signing of defender Jarrad Branthwaite on loan from Everton until the end of the season. On the 15 Rovers announced young midfielder Joe Nolan had signed a professional contract until 2022 following a successful trial. On the 22 Rovers announced midfielder Stefan Mols had returned from his loan spell at Intercity. On the 27 Rovers announced goalkeeper Joe Hilton had signed a new contract until 2022 & joined Ross County until the end of the season.

February

On the 1 Rovers announced the signing of defender Harry Pickering from Crewe Alexandra for an undisclosed fee, on a 4 and half year deal until 2025, he will remain on loan until the end of the season, Rovers also announced defender Joe Grayson had joined Oxford United on loan until the end of the season, Rovers also announced defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis had joined on loan from

until the end of the season, Rovers also announced forward Jack Vale had joined Rochdale on loan until the end of the season. On the 2 Rovers announced midfielder

had returned from his loan spell at

, Rovers also announced defender Tyler Magloire had joined

Motherwell Motherwell ( sco, Mitherwall, gd, Tobar na Màthar) is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, south east of Glasgow. It has a population of around 32,120. Historically in the parish of Dalziel and part of Lanarks ...

on loan until the end of the season. On the 5 Rovers announced midfielder

had joined Hartlepool United on a short-term loan deal. On the 15 Rovers announced midfielder John Buckley signed a new long-term deal until 2024, with the option of a further 12 months. On the 16 Rovers announced midfielder

signed a new long-term deal until 2024, with the option of a further 12 months.

March

On the 4 Rovers announced defender Derrick Williams had left the club by mutual consent to join

LA Galaxy LA Galaxy, also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, are an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference. The club began pl ...

April

May

On the 7 Rovers announced their end of season award winners

was voted Player of the Season, Harvey Elliott's goal against Millwall was voted Goal of the Season, Adam Armstrong was voted Player's Player of the Year & Junior Rovers Player of the Year &

was named this season's PFA Club Community Champion.

Squad information

Pre-season

On 14 August Rovers confirmed their pre-season scheduled.

Competitions

Championship

League table

Results summary

Results by matchday

Matchday

The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.

FA Cup

The third round draw was made on 30 November, with Premier League and

EFL Championship The English Football League Championship (often referred to as the Championship for short or the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship purposes) is the highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and second-highest overall in the E ...

clubs all entering the competition.

EFL Cup

The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports, by Paul Merson. The draw for both the second and third round were confirmed on 6 September, live on Sky Sports by

Phil Babb Philip Andrew Babb (born 30 November 1970) is a sports television pundit and former professional football player and manager. As a player he was a central defender who made over 370 league appearances during his career, most notably spending ...

Backroom staff

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

, - , colspan="14", ''Players out on loan:'' , - , colspan="14", ''Players that played for Blackburn Rovers this season that have left the club:''

Goalscorers

Transfers

Summer

Transfers in

Total outgoing: +/- ~ £

Transfers out

Total incoming: +/- ~ £ 0

Loans in

Loans out

Winter