Valerien Ismael’s best Blackburn Rovers starting XI features £2m centre midfielder and Japanese international

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Blackburn Rovers have completed their transfer business for the first half of the 2025/26 Championship season in a window that saw a lot of change to the squad through several incomings and departures.

Valerien Ismael has now been able to shape the squad to his liking by allowing key players to leave the team while bringing in new faces that he believes will be able to adapt to his tactical approach.

Blackburn Rovers lost a lot of experience from the team in the form of Lewis Travis departing for Derby County, Dominic Hyam joining Wrexham and Callum Brittain moving to Middlesbrough.

However, there were a number of signings that may excite fans and have a positive impact upon the starting line-up for the upcoming Championship campaign.

EFL Analysis has now picked out the best starting XI at Valerien Ismael’s disposal.

• READ MORE: Valerien Ismael believes this Blackburn Rovers summer signing is the ‘full package’

Blackburn Rovers’ best XI for 2025/26

GK – Balazs Toth

While some fans may believe that Aynsley Pears is the better goalkeeper, it is unlikely the outcast will see many minutes in goal for Rovers under Ismael this season.

It is clear that Balazs Toth will be first choice for the Blackburn boss, with the Hungarian demonstrating that he is a fine option to have between the posts.

RB – Ryan Alebiosu

Another straightforward pick for this team for several reasons, with the key one being the departure of arguably the best right-back in the Championship, Callum Brittain, to Middlesbrough.

Ryan Alebiosu has shown in his start to the campaign that there is a good player at full-back for Rovers and that he is probably the best option there, so that is why he is included in the best XI for Ismael.

He has shown his electrifying pace up and down the right side of the pitch, being able to support attacks and making an effective obstacle as wingers look to skip past him.

CB – Scott Wharton

While he is still slowly being reintegrated into the team following a long-term lay off from action for Blackburn Rovers, he is arguably the best option at centre back for the club following the departures this summer.

Blackburn lost a dependable centre back in Dominic Hyam to Wrexham on deadline day, while Danny Batth left for Derby County and Dion Sanderson returned to Birmingham City after his loan spell with Rovers, before reuniting with John Eustace at Pride Park.

CB – Sean McLoughlin

The Irish central defender has shown in his early season form and from his time at Hull City that he is a dependable option at the heart of defence.

While he will now be missing for a few games due to suspension after a red card against Norwich City, he is probably slightly better at the back than Hayden Carter; however, that is not to say the ability difference between them is vast – it is a flip of a coin between them.

LB – Yuri Ribeiro

Arguably the toughest position to decide upon for this strongest XI, with both Yuri Ribeiro and Harry Pickering proving to be fine options in that left-back slot for Rovers.

The Portuguese player just gets the nod due to his ability to add more in attack compared to Pickering, with the Ismael system seeming to value this element of his game highly.

CM – Sondre Tronstad

The Norwegian has proven since he signed for Blackburn Rovers that he is a fine player and a vital cog in their side, as he has provided solidity in the centre of midfield and an ability to create from deep for the club.

It would have been arguably worse to lose Tronstad than Lewis Travis to Derby County due to the extra bit of quality that the Norwegian has compared to the former Rovers captain.

Tronstad has also shown in his brief spell at Rovers that he is willing to take on a leadership role in the team and on the pitch leading by example, when many others would have shied away.

• READ MORE: Sondre Tronstad reveals how Derby County rumours affected Blackburn Rovers changing room

CM – Sidnei Tavares

Another new signing to be named in this best starting XI, with Sidnei Tavares being the man in this team to replace Lewis Travis.

Sidnei Tavares adds some defensive solidity to this Blackburn Rovers side, and he is the man that will control the tempo for Ismael’s side.

While there are other options in midfield, with Moussa Baradji joining the club, who is able to play in the middle of the park, he is a more energetic option and may not have the same control as Tavares.

RW – Augustus Kargbo

The Sierra Leonean has demonstrated his danger in the early part of this season, and he may be the most dangerous player on the Blackburn team, just because of his unpredictability and the joy he finds in taking on defenders.

Augustus Kargbo has incredible pace, and this is a huge asset for Blackburn and Ismael as he looks to stretch teams quickly, and this will be a fine tool to use when attacking teams on the counterattack.

CAM – Todd Cantwell

The new Blackburn Rovers captain has seemingly found another level since assuming this role under Ismael, with the manager predicting this ahead of his first game wearing the armband.

Todd Cantwell was an important player for the side last season; however, it is now imperative that the new captain is on form this season, as they have lost a lot of their creative and goalscoring options.

• READ MORE: Tony Mowbray makes shocking ‘lovely’ claim about Venky’s despite ‘absent’ Blackburn Rovers owners

LW – Dion De Neve

While Ryan Hedges has made a good start to the season on the wing for Blackburn, new signing Dion De Neve has shown in flashes what he could possibly bring to the club.

The Belgian has incredible pace like Kargbo on the other side of the Blackburn attack, and he has already opened his account for Rovers.

With both Dion De Neve and Kargbo playing on the wings, this will cause opposition sides several headaches when attempting to defend against Blackburn.

ST – Yuki Ohashi

The Japanese striker has proved to be an incredibly tireless worker at the top of the Blackburn attack, while not having the clinical touch that Rovers so desperately need.

There will be a hope that Andri Gudjohnsen can bring that to the Lancashire club; however, he has not proven this at his previous clubs, and unless a switch is flipped, he is not expected to at Ewood Park either.