Genoa tried in January. Blackburn said no. Blackburn are now safe from relegation and more open to selling. Ryan Alebiosu is heading to Serie A this summer if Genoa’s second approach lands as planned.
Genoa have revived their interest in Blackburn Rovers right-back Ryan Alebiosu and are preparing a €5 million offer to sign the Super Eagles defender this summer, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercato. Daniele De Rossi’s side pushed to sign the 24-year-old in the January transfer window but had their approach rejected. The situation has changed. Blackburn Rovers have confirmed their Championship safety and are now willing to listen to offers for a player who has been one of their standout performers this season.
Alebiosu’s 2025/26 campaign produced one goal and five assists in 41 Championship appearances, making him one of the most productive right-backs in the English second tier this season. At 24 and with Arsenal academy pedigree behind him, he fits the profile of player Genoa have consistently targeted in their recent recruitment cycles.
Why Blackburn Held Firm in January
The winter rejection was straightforward. Blackburn were in a relegation fight at the time and could not afford to lose a player who had played in every league game up to that point in the season. Releasing a reliable full-back into the market mid-season, while simultaneously trying to secure Championship survival, was a risk no sensible manager would take.
Their situation now is entirely different. Survival is confirmed. The squad can be restructured for next season without the pressure of survival bearing down on every decision. Alebiosu has one year left on his contract, which gives Blackburn extra motivation to sell rather than risk losing him on a free transfer in 2027. At €5 million, Genoa’s offer represents a reasonable market rate for a Championship right-back with the physical profile and technical qualities that Serie A clubs specifically seek. Fans following Alebiosu’s transfer can check the Bet9ja YOHAIG promo code ahead of the summer window.
What He Brings to Genoa
Alebiosu is a right-back who contributes at both ends of the pitch. His five assists from a defensive position in a 41-game Championship season places him among the most productive full-backs at that level of English football. His crossing quality, overlapping runs, and ability to contribute to build-up play are the attributes that have made him attractive to Serie A clubs looking for a modern full-back who can function as a wing-back when required.
Genoa, who have used wing-back systems under De Rossi, would benefit from a right-back who can carry the ball forward and deliver from wide positions. His physical profile, quick and direct, suits the pressing-based football De Rossi has tried to implement at the Luigi Ferraris. Those tracking his potential Serie A move can find the latest at bet9japromotioncode.com.ng.
The Arsenal Connection and Super Eagles Future
Alebiosu is a product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, the same facility that produced Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Eddie Nketiah. He never made a first-team appearance for the Gunners, moving through loan spells at various clubs before joining Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk and then making the step to Blackburn in 2023. His route to European football has been unorthodox but his Championship performances in 2025/26 have made the path clear.
A move to Serie A would significantly raise his Super Eagles profile. Alebiosu’s international career is at an early stage, and consistent top-flight European football is precisely what would accelerate his candidacy for a regular berth in Eric Chelle’s plans for the 2026 World Cup and the subsequent AFCON cycle. Right-back is a competitive position in the Super Eagles and the Nigerian players vying for that role include some of the most experienced in the current setup. Performing in Serie A week after week is the kind of argument that changes those conversations. Those following his transfer and Super Eagles trajectory can get started with this Bet9ja referral code page ahead of the window.
Did You Know?
- Ryan Alebiosu was born on September 5, 2001 in London. He joined Arsenal’s academy as a young teenager and spent several years at Hale End alongside other academy graduates who went on to notable careers. He never made a competitive first-team appearance for Arsenal, leaving the club in 2023 to sign for Belgian Pro League side KV Kortrijk, which brought him into the European professional football pathway through Belgian football.
- KV Kortrijk, the Belgian club where Alebiosu played before joining Blackburn, has a notable history of developing and scouting African-heritage talent from English academies. The club played in the Belgian Pro League at the same time that Chidera Ejuke was on loan there, making Kortrijk one of the more frequent staging posts for Nigerian and African-heritage players using Belgian football as a bridge between English development and European professional careers.
- Genoa CFC, managed by Daniele De Rossi, finished the 2025/26 Serie A season in a mid-table position after a challenging campaign. De Rossi, the former Roma and Italy international midfielder, was appointed Genoa head coach in late 2025 following his brief stint as AS Roma’s head coach, and is building the squad for a more competitive campaign in 2026/27. His preference for dynamic, technically versatile full-backs aligns with Alebiosu’s profile.
- Blackburn Rovers, who rejected Genoa’s January approach, are one of the English Championship’s most historically significant clubs, having won the Premier League in 1994/95 under Kenny Dalglish, bankrolled by the Jack Walker fortune. Their current Championship position reflects a club that has spent the years since that title working to rebuild its infrastructure and playing identity, with survival becoming the primary objective in recent seasons.
- Alebiosu’s five assists from right-back in a 41-game Championship season is a return that compares favourably with some of the most attack-minded full-backs in the division. Championship right-backs who register five or more assists in a single season typically attract significant interest from clubs in the Premier League and from European leagues seeking proven English football performers, making Genoa’s €5 million offer relatively modest given his output.
- Daniele De Rossi, who has initiated Genoa’s renewed interest in Alebiosu, won the UEFA Champions League, four Serie A titles, and the FIFA World Cup during his playing career at Roma and with Italy. His profile as a former elite professional has given him credibility with players across Europe, and his development as a manager at Roma and now Genoa reflects a coaching intelligence built on years of playing experience at the highest level of the game.
- Alebiosu would join a growing list of English Championship-based players who have moved to Serie A clubs following strong individual seasons in the second tier of English football. The Championship-to-Serie-A pipeline has been used successfully by players including Domenico Berardi, who went the opposite direction, and several African-heritage players who used English football’s second tier as a proving ground before earning moves to Italian clubs in search of a higher weekly profile and Champions League exposure.
