Contracts

[Mattyblue]

But as Toth’s ’added value’ he can now be sold.

The Model (the latest one, as we’ve had many).

Edited November 3, 2025 by Mattyblue

[KentExile]

1 minute ago, Mattyblue said:

But as Toth’s ’added value’ he can now be sold.

The Model (the latest one, as we’ve had many).

Like so many before him, only once he has a year left on his contract, so his "added value" is curtailed by terrible contract management... again

Edited November 3, 2025 by KentExile

[JHRover]

What's more important?

Securing a capable well-performing player to improved better terms, increasing his value to the club, protecting an asset and addressing an important position for the medium term, continuing to build towards some sort of sporting aim?

Or earning bonuses and %s by refusing to pay him more, selling him in January/summer for a couple of million, making a relatively quick profit and pats on the back from the accountants and agents doing very nicely out of it?

This is Blackburn Rovers 2025, enjoy

[KentExile]

 

[KentExile]

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25768689.blackburn-rovers-contract-latest-expiring-deals-key-players/

 

Blackburn Rovers' focus is on the transfer window but there remain a number of contract decisions bubbling away behind the scenes.

Whilst the priority is adding new faces to Valerien Ismael's squad, Rovers have several players that they'd like to tie down before the summer.

Contract renewals have been a thorny subject at Rovers since Gregg Broughton left the club. Only three first-team players have renewed since December 2023, with Yuri Ribeiro and Adam Forshaw extending their short-term deals and Scott Wharton committing his future in October.

Last summer, Rovers were backed into a corner regarding Callum Brittain, Lewis Travis and Dom Hyam, forcing them to sell. Danny Batth, Andi Weimann and Tyrhys Dolan also moved on when Rovers would've liked them to stay.

Here is Lancashire Telegraph's latest information on the contract landscape at Ewood Park.

Ryan Hedges - 2026

Rovers activated the 12-month option in Hedges' contract last summer, meaning they will have to renew or release the Welshman at the end of this season.

Hedges has become an integral player for Valerien Ismael. The shift to 3-5-2 has benefited him with the left-wing-back role tailor-made for him in this system.

Rovers received positive news, exclusively revealed by LT, after his surgery to repair a fractured fibula went well. There are hopes he will play again this season when the worst-case scenario meant he could've worn blue and white for the final time.

Pre-injury, it's understood that Rovers held informal discussions about extending Hedges' contract. Talks were initially opened more than 12 months ago but went quiet during last January's window and the subsequent departure of John Eustace.

Those discussions were revived in November, with a willingness from both sides to extend his four-year stay at the club. Hedges is open to fresh terms, though would likely seek the security of a multi-year deal. He turned 31 in July but since hamstring issues in 2023/24, has been largely injury-free, with this latest issue caused by contact rather than anything muscular.

A formal offer hasn't been issued at the time of writing, with focus now on his rehabilitation. However, if the terms are right, I'd say there's a good chance he will extend his time at Rovers.

Sondre Tronstad - 2026

Rovers would love to keep Tronstad beyond the summer but that remains an unlikely scenario.

Head of Football, Rudy Gestede, stated as much publicly in September, with Tronstad's family keen to return to Norway.

It's understood that there's been no change in that stance and he remains likely to leave on a free transfer. There are no plans for him to depart in the January transfer window, though.

At the time of writing, there's no club lined up for Tronstad ahead of the summer. The 30-year-old will see out the final months of his Rovers deal before assessing his options.

Kristi Montgomery - 2026 with an option

Rovers offered the breakthrough Academy graduate a fresh deal in 2025 but that hasn't yet been signed. As reported by LT in October, Montgomery was keen to see how his gametime progressed after limited opportunities in the season's early months.

Since then, his minutes have increased significantly, though injuries in the last six weeks have hampered his progress. After returning from an ankle issue, he's now injured his shoulder, with the prognosis not yet public knowledge.

With a loan move ruled out this month, it feels a matter of when, rather than if, he pens new terms. Rovers have more time to find an agreement as he has a 12-month option they can trigger.

Balazs Toth - 2027

Moving onto those out of contract in 2027, Rovers are approaching a critical point with Balazs Toth. The goalkeeper has 18 months to run on his current deal.

Toth has established himself a number one and has made his senior debut for Hungary. His star is rising and that will clearly attract suitors.

Zalan Zombori, an agent within Toth's representatives, World In Motion, as well as an ex-player turned pundit, suggested Champions League clubs could be interested this summer.

Translated from Hungarian, the told Nemzeti Sport last week: "I think he is in a good place now. He is in a good position; he has already earned his place in the team with his previous performance.

"If he is able to finish his injury in the spring, I think he has a chance for any serious opportunity in the summer.

"But the goal is not necessarily to change at all costs, but I think the possibility to play in the Champions League is a very good thing. We'll see, if he can perform like that all the time, then I think he will have interesting opportunities in the summer."

Rovers are keen to tie Toth down and those comments are only further evidence of his enhanced reputation. With one year left, clubs could sense an opportunity as they did with Travis et al. last year.

Todd Cantwell - 2027

Speaking at Rovers' 'Evening with Valerien Ismael', the head coach claimed talks were ongoing to sign their captain to a fresh contract. According to eyewitnesses, there was genuine optimism that Cantwell would renew his stay at Ewood Park.

It's evident that the skipper is a big part of the plans for Ismael. He has invested heavily in Cantwell, making him club captain and building the team around him to a certain extent.

He has rewarded Rovers with far more consistent displays this term. His technical ability is amongst the best at the club and he's enjoyed the new leadership role presented to him.

In my view, it's quite clear that Cantwell is good for Rovers and visa versa. The question is whether they can strike a financial package that pleases all parties as much.

Ryan Alebiosu

The defender signed a long-term contract in the summer but there have already been murmurings of admirers in the press. Whilst LT reported that Everton, or anyone else, have not made contact, his impressing displays will attract admirers.

His enhanced reputation internationally will do that too, having made his debut for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Alebiosu has quite clearly been the best piece of recruitment by the club last summer, considering the minimal fee paid.

LT understands that Rovers have indicated that they would like to reward Alebiosu for his fast start with upgraded terms. Formal talks have yet to take place and that would likely be in the following months or indeed the summer.

This would clearly be a proactive and sensible move to ensure a player who is quickly becoming a top asset, feels valued at Ewood Park.

 

Others deals to watch

Hayden Carter has struggled to stay injury free. 

Adam Forshaw is the only other player who could be a free agent next summer. Rovers will make a decision him in the summer, as they did in 2025.

Rovers have eight more players whose deals expire in 2027. Of those, Yuki Ohashi, Harry Pickering and Sean McLoughlin all have 12-month options in their deals.

Hayden Carter's situation is difficult. At the moment, it's impossible for Rovers to negotiate as he has struggled so badly with injuries. After only six starts in 2025, it feels imperative that the next six months go to plan for Carter.

When available, he is clearly part of Rovers' best XI. But now at 25, he has to find a way to remain fit to realise the promise he has.

Aynsley Pears' situation will likely depend on how much he plays between now and the summer. Rovers tried to move him on last year and so you'd expect he could depart if he isn't number one.

Yuri Ribeiro has lost his place as a result of the system change. Rovers will likely take a view on his situation in the next six to 12 months, with no obvious fit for him in the 3-5-2 shape.

Jake Garrett is still recovering from groin surgery in the summer. Having won Young Player of the Year in 2024, it's been a rough 18 months for him after two poor loans and a serious injury.

Edited 2 hours ago by KentExile

[MarkBRFC]

Elliot also caveated that article with another post about supporting the LT with subscriptions etc as a lot of work goes into articles like that and it doesn't just take an hour to throw together.

Not being funny, but most Rovers fans who have paid attention to the last few years could have written a very similar article. There is no news in there.

I found the Toth and Cantwell sections particularly amusing, not a chance either of those get done.

Edited 2 hours ago by MarkBRFC

[Mattyblue]

Come on now, he’s even been translating Hungarian, tough language that.

[JHRover]

'Rovers were backed into a corner' - correction - Rovers backed themselves into a corner

'Forcing them to sell' - Rovers wanted to sell, which is why they made it clear they didn't want to keep the players and didn't offer them new deals - they wanted their grubby hands on the transfer money

'Rovers would have liked them to stay' - ah, so that's why they refused to even speak about new deals to the core of Eustace's top 6 positioned squad despite numerous requests from him to tie them down, even to the point of allowing Eustace to walk out over it

'Tronstad's family keen to return to Norway'- so presumably when he moves to another Championship club, or one on the Continent, that charade will be dropped because I'm pretty sure he won't be playing in the Norwegian league next season. Another convenient cover story.

Telegraph back to doing Telegraph stuff again and parroting the regime's account of things.

[KentExile]

Updated list, following Cashin loan & Gueye sale

Each player is linked to Rovers confirmation of their last contract signing

 

Expiring in 2026 - Tronstad, Forshaw, Hedges, Mullarkey-Matthews, Kahn, Davies, Farkas, Stritch, Dlamini, Wood, Boggan, all current 2nd year scholars including Tyjon

Expiring in 2026 but with an option - Honor, Pratt, Olson, Batty, Duru, Montgomery, O'Grady-Macken, 

 

Loan expiring in 2026 - Cashin

 

Loan expiring in 2026 but with a purchase option - Baradji, Gardner-Hickman

 

Expiring in 2027 - Toth, Pears, Carter, Garrett, Cantwell, Kargbo, Edmondson, Doherty, all current first year scholars including Higgins

Expiring in 2027 but with an option - Barrett, Goddard, Pickering, McLoughlin, Ribeiro, Ohashi, Litherland, Houghton, Powell, 

 

Expiring in 2028 - O'Riordan, Tavares, Eze

 

Expiring in 2028 but with an option - Atcheson, Miller, Alebiosu, De Neve, Gudjohnsen, Morishita, Wharton,

 

Expiring in 2029 - 

 

Expiring in 2029 but with an option - Henriksson, Michalski

[RevidgeBlue]

26 minutes ago, KentExile said:

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25768689.blackburn-rovers-contract-latest-expiring-deals-key-players/

 

Blackburn Rovers' focus is on the transfer window but there remain a number of contract decisions bubbling away behind the scenes.

Whilst the priority is adding new faces to Valerien Ismael's squad, Rovers have several players that they'd like to tie down before the summer.

Contract renewals have been a thorny subject at Rovers since Gregg Broughton left the club. Only three first-team players have renewed since December 2023, with Yuri Ribeiro and Adam Forshaw extending their short-term deals and Scott Wharton committing his future in October.

Last summer, Rovers were backed into a corner regarding Callum Brittain, Lewis Travis and Dom Hyam, forcing them to sell. Danny Batth, Andi Weimann and Tyrhys Dolan also moved on when Rovers would've liked them to stay.

Here is Lancashire Telegraph's latest information on the contract landscape at Ewood Park.

Ryan Hedges - 2026

Rovers activated the 12-month option in Hedges' contract last summer, meaning they will have to renew or release the Welshman at the end of this season.

Hedges has become an integral player for Valerien Ismael. The shift to 3-5-2 has benefited him with the left-wing-back role tailor-made for him in this system.

Rovers received positive news, exclusively revealed by LT, after his surgery to repair a fractured fibula went well. There are hopes he will play again this season when the worst-case scenario meant he could've worn blue and white for the final time.

Pre-injury, it's understood that Rovers held informal discussions about extending Hedges' contract. Talks were initially opened more than 12 months ago but went quiet during last January's window and the subsequent departure of John Eustace.

Those discussions were revived in November, with a willingness from both sides to extend his four-year stay at the club. Hedges is open to fresh terms, though would likely seek the security of a multi-year deal. He turned 31 in July but since hamstring issues in 2023/24, has been largely injury-free, with this latest issue caused by contact rather than anything muscular.

A formal offer hasn't been issued at the time of writing, with focus now on his rehabilitation. However, if the terms are right, I'd say there's a good chance he will extend his time at Rovers.

Sondre Tronstad - 2026

Rovers would love to keep Tronstad beyond the summer but that remains an unlikely scenario.

Head of Football, Rudy Gestede, stated as much publicly in September, with Tronstad's family keen to return to Norway.

It's understood that there's been no change in that stance and he remains likely to leave on a free transfer. There are no plans for him to depart in the January transfer window, though.

At the time of writing, there's no club lined up for Tronstad ahead of the summer. The 30-year-old will see out the final months of his Rovers deal before assessing his options.

Kristi Montgomery - 2026 with an option

Rovers offered the breakthrough Academy graduate a fresh deal in 2025 but that hasn't yet been signed. As reported by LT in October, Montgomery was keen to see how his gametime progressed after limited opportunities in the season's early months.

Since then, his minutes have increased significantly, though injuries in the last six weeks have hampered his progress. After returning from an ankle issue, he's now injured his shoulder, with the prognosis not yet public knowledge.

With a loan move ruled out this month, it feels a matter of when, rather than if, he pens new terms. Rovers have more time to find an agreement as he has a 12-month option they can trigger.

Balazs Toth - 2027

Moving onto those out of contract in 2027, Rovers are approaching a critical point with Balazs Toth. The goalkeeper has 18 months to run on his current deal.

Toth has established himself a number one and has made his senior debut for Hungary. His star is rising and that will clearly attract suitors.

Zalan Zombori, an agent within Toth's representatives, World In Motion, as well as an ex-player turned pundit, suggested Champions League clubs could be interested this summer.

Translated from Hungarian, the told Nemzeti Sport last week: "I think he is in a good place now. He is in a good position; he has already earned his place in the team with his previous performance.

"If he is able to finish his injury in the spring, I think he has a chance for any serious opportunity in the summer.

"But the goal is not necessarily to change at all costs, but I think the possibility to play in the Champions League is a very good thing. We'll see, if he can perform like that all the time, then I think he will have interesting opportunities in the summer."

Rovers are keen to tie Toth down and those comments are only further evidence of his enhanced reputation. With one year left, clubs could sense an opportunity as they did with Travis et al. last year.

Todd Cantwell - 2027

Speaking at Rovers' 'Evening with Valerien Ismael', the head coach claimed talks were ongoing to sign their captain to a fresh contract. According to eyewitnesses, there was genuine optimism that Cantwell would renew his stay at Ewood Park.

It's evident that the skipper is a big part of the plans for Ismael. He has invested heavily in Cantwell, making him club captain and building the team around him to a certain extent.

He has rewarded Rovers with far more consistent displays this term. His technical ability is amongst the best at the club and he's enjoyed the new leadership role presented to him.

In my view, it's quite clear that Cantwell is good for Rovers and visa versa. The question is whether they can strike a financial package that pleases all parties as much.

Ryan Alebiosu

The defender signed a long-term contract in the summer but there have already been murmurings of admirers in the press. Whilst LT reported that Everton, or anyone else, have not made contact, his impressing displays will attract admirers.

His enhanced reputation internationally will do that too, having made his debut for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Alebiosu has quite clearly been the best piece of recruitment by the club last summer, considering the minimal fee paid.

LT understands that Rovers have indicated that they would like to reward Alebiosu for his fast start with upgraded terms. Formal talks have yet to take place and that would likely be in the following months or indeed the summer.

This would clearly be a proactive and sensible move to ensure a player who is quickly becoming a top asset, feels valued at Ewood Park.

 

Others deals to watch

Hayden Carter has struggled to stay injury free. 

Adam Forshaw is the only other player who could be a free agent next summer. Rovers will make a decision him in the summer, as they did in 2025.

Rovers have eight more players whose deals expire in 2027. Of those, Yuki Ohashi, Harry Pickering and Sean McLoughlin all have 12-month options in their deals.

Hayden Carter's situation is difficult. At the moment, it's impossible for Rovers to negotiate as he has struggled so badly with injuries. After only six starts in 2025, it feels imperative that the next six months go to plan for Carter.

When available, he is clearly part of Rovers' best XI. But now at 25, he has to find a way to remain fit to realise the promise he has.

Aynsley Pears' situation will likely depend on how much he plays between now and the summer. Rovers tried to move him on last year and so you'd expect he could depart if he isn't number one.

Yuri Ribeiro has lost his place as a result of the system change. Rovers will likely take a view on his situation in the next six to 12 months, with no obvious fit for him in the 3-5-2 shape.

Jake Garrett is still recovering from groin surgery in the summer. Having won Young Player of the Year in 2024, it's been a rough 18 months for him after two poor loans and a serious injury.

So to summarise:

Hedges - No formal offer issued

Tronstad - "unlikely"

Montgomery - 2025 offer unsigned

Toth - His representatives talking about him moving in summer

Cantwell - can't agree on finances

Alebiosu - no talks yet taken place

Not sure how Jackson has spun such a lengthy puff piece out of absolutely nothing. He's doing some serious brown nosing today.

[JHRover]

Amazing how all these players leave, contracts expire, renewals fail (despite allegedly being keen to retain so many players) and yet they still manage to portray the club as the victims.

Surely at some point the penny has to drop that the reason all these players leave and nobody signs new terms is because of the club and the people wrecking it?

[RevidgeBlue]

I've probably missed one or two out but:

Rothwell, Nyambe, Lenihan, Brereton, Dolan, Travis, Hyam, Batth, Weimann, Brittain.

Probably soon to be followed by Cantwell, Toth, Alebiosu, Tronstad and even bloody Ryan Hedges.

How unlucky are we? Fifteen out of fifteen  allegedly greedy bastards and not one of them the Club's fault!

[K-Hod]

Why would I pay for the LT? It's horrific  and the editor must be on work experience-  the amount of spelling and grammatical errors are abysmal.