With a statement on the official website, Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers have announced the signing of Super Eagles hopeful Dapo Afolayan. 

The 28-year-old returns to English football three years after leaving Bolton Wanderers for German Bundesliga outfit St. Pauli.

A product of the Chelsea and West Ham United academies, Afolayan joins Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract that runs until the end of the 2026–27 season.

He departs St. Pauli after making a total of 93 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists.

Born in London, the forward has committed his international future to Nigeria’s Super Eagles over England and had hoped to earn a call-up for last summer’s Unity Cup.

Before committing his international future to the three-time African champions, Afolayan had earned a cap for England’s C team, known as the Three Lions.

Despite his omission from the Unity Cup squad, Afolayan visited the Super Eagles at their team hotel in London, where he met with players and members of the coaching staff, further strengthening his ties with the national team setup.

The attacker boasts considerable Football League experience, having made a combined 103 appearances across League One and League Two.

In addition to the aforementioned clubs, Afolayan has previously featured for Toronto FC, ANB Futbol, Loughborough University, Solihull Moors, Oldham Athletic and Mansfield Town, following spells at Barnet and Tooting & Mitcham United.

Afolayan will link up with Nigeria international right-back Ryan Alebiosu at Blackburn Rovers.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel