Blackburn Rovers set to sign free agent arriving after 15 goal/assist season

Blackburn Rovers are now exploring the free agent market after a frustrating summer transfer window in which they missed out on several targets. Tony Mowbray's side host Sheffield United in midweek and have already held talks with multiple free agents. The Blades have just beat Rovers to the signing of Jordan Ayew, but Blackburn are now set to sign another free agent instead. Mowbray's side are set to sign attacking midfielder Ryotaro Ito on a free transfer, according to Sacha Tavolieri. Ito has completed a medical with the club and is now set to join them. The attacking midfielder is looking for a new home after leaving Belgian side St Truiden and will become the third Japanese player to join Rovers' ranks along with Yuki Ohashi and Ryoya Morishita. Ito's path to becoming an established European midfielder was far from straightforward. After coming through Cerezo Osaka's academy, he joined Urawa Red Diamonds in 2016 and made his J1 League debut, but managed just seven league appearances before heading elsewhere for regular first-team football. Loan spells at Mito HollyHock proved crucial to his development, with Ito scoring 13 goals in 60 J2 League appearances across two periods. His breakthrough came at Albirex Niigata, where he registered nine goals and numerous assists in 42 appearances during their 2022 J2 League title-winning campaign. Ito continued to impress after stepping up to J1 before earning a move to Belgian side Sint-Truiden in 2023. He quickly established himself as an important player, making 104 league appearances and scoring 19 goals, while his performances in 2025/26 earned him a place in the Belgian Pro League Team of the Season. A Japan international, Ito is an attacking midfielder whose game is built around vision, creativity and quality from set-pieces, while he also offers a consistent goalscoring threat. Mowbray returned to Blackburn Rovers in June with a clear attacking problem to solve, and Ito will now be part of the solution. Rovers scored just 42 goals in 46 Championship games last season, leaving Mowbray demanding more goals and, crucially, more magic in the final third. Ito is exactly the type of player Mowbray has been looking for, with the Japanese attacking midfielder capable of beating opponents, creating chances from nothing and giving supporters something to get excited about. His vision, first touch and creativity in tight areas should add a new dimension to Blackburn's attack. Games Goals Assists Average Rating 35 10 5 7.54 The 28-year-old can unlock defences with incisive through balls and dangerous set pieces, while also possessing the quality to score himself. He produced nine goals during Albirex Niigata's 2022 promotion campaign before enjoying another prolific season at Sint-Truiden in 2025/26. Mowbray has often spoken about giving his 'artists' the freedom to create rather than restricting them to rigid patterns, and Ito should thrive in that environment. His arrival gives Blackburn the unpredictability, creativity and attacking quality they have been missing. Enjoyed that? Add us to your Google sources See more EFL transfer news and match reaction from The72, first, in Google Search. Add us on Google