Alebiosu: Nigeria Call-Up Was Biggest Career Highlight

Ryan Alebiosu has not been shy about what representing Nigeria means to him. Speaking to Blackburn Rovers’ own media channel, the 24-year-old right-back reflected on a season that changed his life — from consistent Championship performer to Super Eagles international — and made clear that the taste of international football has only increased his appetite. His words carry the kind of sincerity that money cannot buy, as reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng.

Alebiosu chose his words carefully but left nothing ambiguous about how much the call-up meant. He admitted that when he signed for Blackburn in July 2025, earning an international cap was not a thought he allowed himself to have. When the letter arrived from the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of the AFCON, the emotion that followed was immediate and real. He described it as one of the biggest highlights of his career, adding that the experience boosted his confidence and made him realise there is still a great deal more he can bring to the table at club level and beyond.

A Debut That Came With Pain — Literally

Alebiosu’s first cap for Nigeria on December 30 in Marrakech against Uganda was not without drama. He played the full 90 minutes of a 3-1 victory, contributing to the buildup for Paul Onuachu’s opening goal, but sustained a deep gash to his right foot after being pushed into the advertising hoardings during the first half. In a telling display of his character, he played on despite the injury and completed the match before being taken to hospital for treatment. The cut ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament, but he chose to stay in Morocco with the squad rather than return to Blackburn. His call-up had come in part because Ola Aina, the established first choice at right back, had been unavailable through injury, but Alebiosu made the occasion entirely his own. Fans who want to follow Alebiosu’s next Super Eagles chapter at the Unity Cup can check the Bet9ja promo code ahead of Nigeria’s semi-final against Zimbabwe on May 26.

He has thought about that debut every day since, by his own admission. For a player born in Islington, London, who spent eleven years at Arsenal’s academy from the age of eight without breaking through to first-team football, who then went through Crewe Alexandra, Kilmarnock, Kortrijk in Belgium, and a loan spell at St Mirren before landing at Blackburn, the journey to that moment in Morocco was not a straight line. That context makes his gratitude feel earned rather than performed.

From Arsenal Academy to Ewood Park: The Road That Got Him Here

Alebiosu’s full name is Ryan Fiyinfoluwa Alebiosu. He joined Arsenal as an eight-year-old in 2010 and stayed at Hale End for over a decade, signing his first professional contract in 2020. He never made a senior appearance for the Gunners, going out on loan to Crewe Alexandra in 2022 before spending a season at Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership. A move to KV Kortrijk in Belgium followed in 2023, where he spent two seasons developing as a right back before a loan spell at St Mirren added Scottish top-flight experience to his profile. Blackburn signed him permanently in July 2025, and he has started 30 of their 32 Championship fixtures in 2025/26, contributing one goal and three assists across the campaign. His goal came in October against Southampton, an equaliser in a 2-1 win that underlined his willingness to carry the ball forward from deep positions. New fans following the Super Eagles this summer can use the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG welcome code before the Unity Cup gets underway at The Valley in Charlton on May 26.

Transfer Interest Building Ahead of Summer Window

Alebiosu’s rise has not gone unnoticed in the market. Reports from England and Italy suggest that Blackburn are now willing to consider serious offers for the right-back this summer, having previously rejected approaches during the January window. Everton and Genoa have been mentioned as interested parties, with the player still having two years remaining on the three-year deal he signed at Ewood Park. Blackburn will not give him away cheaply, but the club’s position outside the Premier League makes it difficult to hold onto a player of his quality if a top-flight offer arrives. The Unity Cup against Zimbabwe on May 26 gives him another chance to put his abilities in front of Eric Chelle, whose 4-4-2 system demands exactly the kind of energy and discipline that Alebiosu showed at AFCON. Fans keen to wager on the Unity Cup and the summer transfer action can use the Bet9ja accumulator tips page ahead of the tournament’s opening fixtures.