What's happened to John Buckley since he left Blackburn Rovers? | OneFootball

John Buckley made the move away from Blackburn Rovers in the 2025 summer transfer window

John Buckley came through the ranks of the Blackburn Rovers academy system before breaking into the first team squad.

The midfielder made his senior debut on 16 March 2019, coming off the bench in a 4-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday at the age of 19.

He made one more appearance in the Championship that season, with the team coming 15th in the table.

Buckley made a total of 147 appearances in the second division for the Lancashire outfit, along with 13 for Sheffield Wednesday during a loan stint in 2023/24.

However, he fell back down the pecking order under the likes of John Eustace and Valerien Ismael, leading to his departure last summer, with the 26-year-old moving to Saudi Arabia.

Here we look at how Buckley has fared since his departure from Blackburn in the 2025 summer transfer window…

John Buckley’s Saudi Arabia adventures

Blackburn agreed a deal with Al-Kholood last summer following their seventh place finish in the Championship table.

It was reported that Rovers received around £1 million for the academy graduate, and he has made the move to the Middle East to join Des Buckingham’s side.

The former Oxford United boss took charge in August, and he has brought some English football experience with him to the Saudi Pro League.

Buckley has cemented himself as a key part of Buckingham’s plans so far, with the 26-year-old featuring in 23 of their 26 games so far in the league this season.

Al-Kholood are currently 14th in the table, hovering just six points and two places above the relegation zone, with just eight matches remaining.

Buckley has already contributed two goals and four assists for Buckingham’s side, including finding the back of the net on his debut for the club.

He played his final game for Blackburn on 12 August last year, coming off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Bradford City in the EFL Cup.

And just 16 days later, he scored in a 2-1 defeat to Al-Ettifaq, going straight into the starting lineup after completing his move from the Championship.

He scored again two games later in a 2-1 victory over Darmac, striking in the 82nd minute with the score 1-1 at the time.

John Buckley on life in Saudi Arabia

Buckingham will be relying on Buckley’s quality in the final weeks of the campaign, with the team fighting against relegation.

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the midfielder, who opened up adapting to life in the Middle East back in October.

The 26-year-old admitted that it hasn’t been easy, but he claimed the goal in his debut helped settle down any nerves he had about the change in scenery.

"I’m still adapting, to be honest. Just like with the hours, the time you wake up, the time you go to sleep," said Buckley, via Flashscore.

"I scored in my first game, so it helped me settle.

“And everyone's been, like, so welcoming in the local area and the team.

"Everyone wants the same thing, which is to do well and win games.

“It's definitely made me settle."

Buckley also opened up about competing against world famous stars like Cristiano Ronaldo — who signed for Al Nassr after his Manchester United contract was terminated in November 2022 — and Sadio Mané.

"It was a bit like surreal, to be honest, especially in the tunnel before we go out,” he added.

"I was marking Ronaldo on corners, which was a bit strange, and then man-marking Mane in the game.

“It was a really good experience, the standard of players they have all over the pitches is ridiculous.

"They even have the best Saudi players.

“But yeah, it was a good experience; we competed pretty well.

“We lost the game 2-0, but we gave a good account of ourselves."

Al-Kholood will return to action on 3 April with a home clash against 11th place Al-Khaleej, where Buckley will no doubt be in the starting lineup if he is available.