Blackburn Rovers’ most expensive signings of all time include Champions League winner and former club captain

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Blackburn Rovers are one of the most historic clubs in England and are one of the seven winners of the Premier League, and throughout their existence they have made a number of expensive signings to reflect their reputation.

However, the club are currently in the Championship, not having featured in the top flight since 2011, and are operating on a tighter budget than they have done previously.

 While Valérien Ismaël would love to be able to make a number of transfers during this summer window, it is more likely he may suffer the same fate as previous Rovers managers.

Rovers came close to the playoffs last season, and a few big transfers may be what they need to get over the line.

EFL Analysis revisits the club’s most expensive-ever signings as fans hark back to these times when the money at Ewood Park was being thrown around a bit more.

• READ MORE: Five signings Valerien Ismael needs to make this summer at Blackburn Rovers including Colombian international

Top five most expensive Blackburn Rovers signings

5. Ben Brereton-Diaz

In August 2018 Ben Brereton-Diaz joined Blackburn Rovers on loan from Nottingham Forest, with an option to make the deal permanent in the January window.

He struggled to find the net at Forest, and this is what brought him to Blackburn, and while his form in front of goal did not improve during the loan spell, Blackburn saw his potential and paid £7 million for the striker.

Brereton-Diaz then became one of the most prolific strikers in the Championship during his spell with Rovers, leading to much interest away from Blackburn, scoring 47 goals in 176 appearances.

However, the Chilean international would see out his contract until July 2023, when he left the club for La Liga side Villarreal.

4. Barry Ferguson

Barry Ferguson came through the Rangers academy, impressing in Scotland, leading to Premier League sides seeking his signature.

Blackburn won the race for the exciting Scottish talent, landing Ferguson for a reported £7.5 million, beating Everton for his signature in August 2003.

He was made captain by then manager Graeme Souness in July 2004 and seemed to adapt well to the Premier League, playing 38 matches and scoring four goals.

Ferguson spent two seasons in Lancashire before returning to Glasgow with Rangers for a fee of £4.5 million, as he missed the Old Firm and Scottish football.

3. Kevin Davies

He is potentially more famous for his time spent in Lancashire with Blackburn’s rivals, Bolton Wanderers, at the tail end of his career, but he did play a season of his career at Rovers.

Joining the club from Southampton for £7.5 million in July 1998, with James Beattie heading the other way as part of the deal.

He struggled to adapt to life in Blackburn, as he only scored one goal in his 21 Premier League games for Rovers, and he would return to Southampton the next season.

This occurred due to the relegation of Blackburn, with Rovers seeing their major investment depart the club with Egil Østenstad being given to the Lancashire side as an exchange deal for Davies.

2. Jordan Rhodes

Jordan Rhodes joined Rovers in 2012 after a prolific spell at Huddersfield Town for £8 million, and he went on to score 85 goals in 169 appearances during his time at Ewood Park.

He spent four seasons at the club before departing for Middlesbrough, as he was seen as the most dangerous striker in the division, with the Teesside club desperate to earn promotion to the Premier League.

Rhodes duly helped them earn promotion while Blackburn continued to compete in the Championship after they sold him for an undisclosed fee in February 2016, after Rovers had rejected a £10 million offer in July 2015.

Throughout the rest of his career, he would never be as prolific as he was in his first season with Blackburn when he scored 27 goals; his next closest tally away from Ewood Park was seven goals in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday.

1. Andy Cole

Andy Cole arrived at Ewood Park from Manchester United in 2001 for £8 million, following his Champions League and Premier League winning exploits for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

He went on to score 37 goals in 100 appearances for the club, helping Rovers to win the League Cup in 2002, helping sustain his reputation as one of the best strikers to grace the Premier League.

Cole spent three seasons at Rovers before his relationship with Souness soured, and so he left for Fulham in 2004, playing for a further six clubs after that before retiring.