Everton and Wolfsburg Circle Blackburn’s AFCON Star Ryan Alebiosu

Blackburn Rovers face a nervous January as European suitors begin to circle their breakout star, Ryan Alebiosu. The 24-year-old right-back, who has been a revelation in the Championship this season, is reportedly at the center of a brewing transfer battle involving English Premier League side Everton and German Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg. According to reports from ESPN, the race for the defender’s signature is not limited to England and Germany, with Italian Serie A clubs Sassuolo and Genoa also monitoring his situation closely.

Alebiosu’s meteoric rise comes just months after he arrived at Ewood Park from Belgian side KV Kortrijk on a three-year deal. Since his summer move, the former Arsenal academy graduate has become an indispensable asset for manager Valérien Ismaël, starting 20 consecutive league matches and providing a potent attacking threat from the flank. His consistency and tactical discipline were rewarded in mid-December with a maiden senior call-up to the Nigerian national team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The defender’s international debut against Uganda on December 30 further cemented his reputation as one of the most promising full-backs in the English second tier. However, his AFCON journey hit a major roadblock when he suffered a severe “deep cut” to his right leg during the match, leaving his participation in the knockout stages in doubt. Despite the injury concern, scouts from the top flight remain undeterred, viewing Alebiosu as a high-value prospect with a modest price tag of approximately £4 million.

For Everton, Alebiosu represents a cost-effective solution to their ongoing search for defensive depth, while Wolfsburg is said to be impressed by his physical profile and experience in both the UK and Belgian leagues. Blackburn, currently battling for stability in the lower half of the Championship table, would be loath to lose a player of Alebiosu’s caliber midway through the campaign. However, the lure of top-flight football and a potential quadruple increase in his market value may make a January exit difficult to prevent.

As the transfer window opens, the ball remains in Blackburn’s court, with the club holding leverage through a contract that runs until 2028. Any formal bids are expected to be delayed until Alebiosu returns from international duty, allowing the Rovers hierarchy time to weigh the financial benefits against the risk of losing their most consistent performer. For the player, 2026 has begun with a mix of international pride and injury frustration, but the coming weeks could see him make a career-defining move to one of Europe’s elite leagues.