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Blackburn Rovers have confirmed their squad for the 2025/26 Championship season, and the list has produced two revelations.
The Championship club had a mixed transfer window, profiting off of captain Lewis Travis and Dom Hyam from their respective moves to Derby County and Wrexham and others. EFL Analysis’ chief finance expert Adam Williams thinks five major Blackburn errors led to that transfer business.
It hasn’t been all bad at Ewood Park, of course. Taylor Gardner-Hickman signed on loan from Birmingham City and major target Ryoya Morishita joined among other arrivals. However, there are players in the squad that are unlikely to play, and Blackburn need a centre-back after Hyam’s departure. Ex-West Ham man Craig Dawson has been linked with the club.
Now, Blackburn’s squad list has confirmed one of their goalkeepers has been given an unexpected lifeline after being frozen out, and there is space for a potential Dawson arrival.
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Blackburn Rovers register goalkeeper Aynsley Pears in squad
Blackburn goalkeeper Aynsley Pears has been included in the club’s 28-man squad.
This is despite the Rovers stopper being frozen out of Ismael’s plans since his arrival. 27-year-old Pears joined the club in 2020 from Middlesbrough, working up to being no.1 until he was dropped in April.
He has not been involved in a pre-season match or included in any competitive squad so far this season.
Balazs Toth has become Ismael’s first choice goalkeeper, with Nick Michalski and Felix Goddard as back-ups. Pears was expected to leave this summer, but no move materialised. Now, he appears to have been given a second chance to break into the Rovers squad.
Craig Dawson can take one of Blackburn Rovers’ two free signing spots to replace Dom Hyam
Blackburn’s squad announcement confirms the club now have two spots available for free agents, too.
After Hyam’s move to Wrexham left Blackburn light at centre-back, reports emerged of them being interested in free agent Dawson.
He left Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of last season following the end of his contract.
- READ MORE: Sheffield United have eight months to resolve contract issue for ‘tidy’ ace Chris Wilder loved
Steve Kapuadi has also been linked with Rovers.