Super Eagles star wanted by Everton, Genoa makes Player of the Season shortlist

Super Eagles defender Ryan Alebiosu has been named on the Blackburn Rovers Player of the Season shortlist for the 2025/26 campaign, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 24-year-old right-back only arrived at Ewood Park in July 2025 from Belgian side Kortrijk, with little fanfare. At the time, he was seen as a relatively unknown signing.

But over the course of the season, Alebiosu has grown into one of Blackburn’s most dependable players under manager Michael O’Neill.
He made 40 appearances in the EFL Championship, scoring once and providing five assists, showing both defensive strength and attacking quality from the right side. His ability to push forward, deliver crosses and recover quickly in defence made him a key part of Blackburn’s system.

One of his most important moments came late in the season, when he provided a crucial assist in a 3-1 win over Sheffield United, a result that helped secure Blackburn’s Championship survival.

His form at club level also earned him international recognition. Alebiosu was called up to the Nigeria squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he made his debut for the Super Eagles. However, injury limited his involvement to just one appearance as Nigeria went on to finish third in the competition.

He now finds himself shortlisted alongside several teammates for Blackburn’s top individual honour. The other nominees include Balazs Toth, Sean McLoughlin, Lewis Miller, Eiran Cashin, Sondre Tronstad, Ryoya Morishita, Andri Gudjohnsen and Yuki Ohashi. The winner is set to be announced before Blackburn’s final home game of the season against Leicester City on Saturday, May 2.

Transfer interest grows for Super Eagles’ Alebiosu

Alebiosu’s performances have caught the attention of other admirers beyond Blackburn, with several clubs across Europe now closely monitoring his situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

Premier League side Everton are among those keeping a close eye on the defender as they look to strengthen their options at right-back. In Italy, Serie A club Genoa have already shown concrete interest, having submitted a bid of around €5 million (£4.3 million) during the January transfer window. Blackburn rejected that offer at the time, keen to keep hold of one of their most important players during the fight to stay in the division.

Elsewhere, clubs such as Rangers and German side Wolfsburg are also reported to be tracking his progress. Rangers, in particular, are believed to see Alebiosu as a potential replacement for long-serving captain James Tavernier.

Part of what makes Alebiosu attractive to these clubs is his profile as a modern full-back. Standing at around 1.88 metres tall, he combines physical strength with pace, allowing him to handle defensive duties while also contributing going forward.

His journey has also added to his growing reputation. A former Arsenal academy player, Alebiosu has built experience through spells in Scotland before making his mark in England. His decision to represent Nigeria internationally has further raised his profile, especially after his appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite the growing transfer speculation, Alebiosu has remained focused on Blackburn’s season. Earlier in the campaign, he made it clear that his priority was helping the club finish strongly.

However, with his name now on the Player of the Season shortlist and interest building from clubs in England and across Europe, Blackburn may find it difficult to keep hold of him when the transfer window opens.