The 24 year old wingback made 40 appearances for Blackburn Rovers in 2025/26, earned his Super Eagles debut at AFCON, and came out the other side with a clear-eyed view of what it actually takes to last in professional football.
Ryan Alebiosu has spoken candidly about his first full season at Blackburn Rovers, saying the mental demands of professional football were more challenging than anything he faced physically during the recently concluded 2025/26 campaign, FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. “There was a lot expected from me physically and mentally,” the Nigerian wingback said. “The mental aspect was actually tougher. You have to adapt very quickly from one game to another.”
It’s an honest admission from a player who had every reason to be satisfied with how the season went on paper. Alebiosu made 40 appearances in all competitions for Blackburn, 39 of them in the Championship, starting at right wing-back across a gruelling second-tier campaign. He scored once, an equaliser in a 2-1 win over Southampton in October, and chipped in with five assists from 3,196 minutes of football. By the time the season ended, his name was being mentioned in reports about potential summer interest from other clubs, with Blackburn having turned away enquiries in the January window.
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The AFCON Chapter and What It Cost Him
The mental weight Alebiosu refers to wasn’t just about the Championship grind. In December, he was called up to the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, filling the right-back slot vacated by the injured Ola Aina. He made his tournament debut in Nigeria’s final group stage match against Uganda, a 3-1 win in Fez, playing all 90 minutes with a composure that drew praise from coach Eric Chelle. He finished the game with a 93 percent pass accuracy, five defensive contributions, three clearances and one interception.
But the debut came at a price. Alebiosu was hospitalised after the match with a deep cut to his right leg, sustained during the contest, and the injury ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament. He stayed in Morocco with the squad throughout, watching from the sidelines as Nigeria went on to finish third, beating Egypt on penalties in the bronze medal match. “I came out with an injury, which was a bit frustrating because then I couldn’t finish off the tournament, which was a bit annoying,” he later said.
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He returned to Blackburn for the second half of the season and went through a dip in form before rediscovering his rhythm at the business end of the campaign. A journalist covering the club noted his return to top gear in the final weeks, and the broad assessment of his season is that he delivered on the promise that persuaded Blackburn to sign him permanently in July 2025 on an initial three-year deal.
Growing Up Fast in the Championship
Alebiosu is a London-born defender who came through the Arsenal academy from 2010 to 2021 before moving on to loans at Crewe Alexandra and Kilmarnock, then a two-year spell at Belgian Pro League side Kortrijk and a loan to St Mirren earlier in 2025. That journey across four countries before landing a permanent deal at Blackburn at 23 is exactly the kind of path that builds resilience, even if it doesn’t make the mental demands of a full Championship season any lighter. “The season helped me grow a lot as a player,” he said. “I learned a lot during the season.”
Blackburn finished 20th in the Championship in 2025/26, surviving relegation under the guidance of Michael O’Neill, who took charge in February after Valerien Ismael was sacked. The struggle at club level made Alebiosu’s personal contributions all the more notable. Players who produce five assists and cover 3,196 minutes in a relegation battle don’t get many quiet weeks. Those interested in backing Nigerian Championship players next season can take advantage of the YOHAIG promo code when new betting markets open in August.
The question now is whether Alebiosu’s next chapter brings a step up in class, and whether Eric Chelle brings him back into the Super Eagles picture. The path back into the squad is competitive, with Bright Osayi-Samuel and others ahead of him in the pecking order at right back. But for a 24-year-old who just completed 40 Championship appearances and made his AFCON debut in the same season, the direction of travel is unmistakable.
📌 Did You Know?
- Alebiosu switched his international eligibility from England to Nigeria ahead of the 2025 AFCON, having been born in Islington, London to Nigerian parents. He had previously represented England at youth level.
- Victor Osimhen was among the first to applaud Alebiosu publicly after his debut against Uganda at AFCON, praising his performance on his first appearance at the tournament.
- Blackburn Rovers changed managers mid-season in 2025/26. Valerien Ismael was sacked in February after a poor run of form, with Damien Johnson serving as caretaker before Michael O’Neill was appointed permanently on February 13.
- Alebiosu’s only goal of the 2025/26 Championship season, an equaliser against Southampton in October, came in a 2-1 victory for Blackburn, making him directly responsible for turning a potential defeat into a win.
- Alebiosu was one of several Blackburn players reportedly attracting interest in the January 2026 transfer window, but the club held firm and refused to let him leave mid-season during their relegation battle.
- Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 squad was short of right-back options throughout the tournament. Ola Aina missed the entire competition through injury, Benjamin Fredrick also missed it through injury, and Alebiosu was ruled out after his debut, leaving Bright Osayi-Samuel to carry the position almost alone.
- Blackburn Rovers have been in the Championship for eight consecutive seasons as of 2025/26 — their home ground, Ewood Park, has a capacity of 31,367 but averaged an attendance of around 14,167 that season.
