5 players will depart Blackburn Rovers in 2026 if nothing changes - One is wanted by Arsenal | OneFootball

These five players could depart Blackburn Rovers for nothing in 2026

Blackburn Rovers have endured an indifferent start to the Championship season under Valerien Ismael, having overseen a large player turnover both in and out of Ewood Park in the summer.

The Lancashire outfit missed out on a play-off spot last season by just one position and two spots, but Rovers have been at the bottom end of the division in the opening few months of 2025-26, and will stay there unless they pick up some consistent wins.

Rovers supporters will be disappointed with their decline in form since the summer, and will be hopeful that they can turn things around and avoid the possible drop into League One in 2026.

Relegation could make it even harder to hold onto these five Blackburn players that are set to be out of contract next summer unless something changes…

Sondre Tronstad

Sondre Tronstad joined Blackburn in the 2023 summer transfer window and signed a three-year deal as part of his move from Vitesse Arnhem.

The Norwegian has been a regular part of the side, playing over 80 league games since moving from the Netherlands.

However, his future at Ewood Park is now in serious doubt, with the club's director of football Rudy Gestede confirming in September that unless something drastically changes, Tronstad will likely be departing back to Scandinavia with his family.

Ismael will surely be keen to see him stay with the Championship side, but family does come first for some over football, and that's what looks like in Tronstad's case is going to take priority.

Ryan Hedges

Ryan Hedges’ contract was extended by 12 months last summer, which means he could still depart Ewood Park when this season comes to an end.

The 30-year-old has been with the Championship side since 2022, arriving from Aberdeen, and he has been a regular presence in the years since, playing in a whole host of different positions on both flanks.

He’s made over 120 league appearances in almost four years at the club, and he will be sure to attract interest next year if his future remains up in the air at Blackburn.

Adam Forshaw

Adam Forshaw is another Rovers player who signed an extension to his contract earlier this year, keeping him at the club for another 12 months - despite the fact it was announced he was leaving as part of the 2024-25 end of season retained list.

The 34-year-old made the switch to the Lancashire outfit from Plymouth Argyle last January, and he played a role in their seventh-place finish last season, which included scoring his first Rovers goal against the Pilgrims at Ewood Park.

However, his game-time has been limited so far this campaign, so it remains to be seen whether he will remain with Ismael’s side beyond the end of the term.

Kristi Montgomery

Kristi Montgomery signed a new contract with Blackburn in February 2024, with the youngster coming through the ranks of their academy system.

The Championship side confirmed that the deal runs until the summer of 2026, meaning there is now some uncertainty over his future.

The 21-year-old has struggled for consistent minutes under Ismael, and has previously spent time on loan at north west non-league outfits Chorley and Marine, but the fact he's been in most Championship matchday squads so far this season suggests that the Scotland youth international may have a future at Ewood Park.

Igor Tyjon

Igor Tyjon is a promising young talent at Blackburn that has a scholarship contract that runs until the summer of 2026.

However, it remains to be seen whether he will sign a professional deal that will keep him at Ewood Park beyond the end of this season, or if he will end up at a Premier League club, much like young Irish midfielder Rory Finneran did when he headed to Newcastle United.

It was reported in August that Tyjon was offered a new professional deal by Rovers amid interest from Arsenal, but he has yet to put pen to paper, and that puts him at risk of a Rovers departure.

However, any move to the likes of the Gunners this summer would still net the club some kind of compensation fee, but that would likely be much smaller than his actual worth, and given Tyjon is an England youth international, there's going to be significant demand for his services.