Following the closure of the 2022 Summer Transfer Window, Rovers have kept the good news coming by announcing that academy graduate, John Buckley, has committed his long-term future to the club by signing a new five-year-deal until 2027.
The attacking midfielder, who has been at the club since the age of six, emerged through all the age categories of Rovers’ youth setup before breaking onto the fringes of the first-team in 2019. After being awarded his first taste of senior football by former manager, Tony Mowbray, Buckley soon went onto become a mainstay in Rovers’ side, growing into his role during the supporter-less 2020-21 season.
Despite only being 22-years-old, Buckley has racked up 107 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, netting six times and assisting nine. After being awarded his first Championship appearance in the 4-2 away defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in March 2019, as he came off the bench, Buckley has gone onto stake his claim and challenge for his spot in Rovers’ side. At just 20, Buckley netted his first goal for Rovers – a dramatic winner in added time – which came against the same opponents who he made his debut against – Sheffield Wednesday – but this came in a 2-1 home win in November 2019.
After a goal and an assist in his 28 league games in 2020-21, the return of supporters in 2021-22 saw Buckley put on a show and end the season with his best return ratio of his career, as he scored three goals and assisted seven times in 42 Championship games, as Rovers stumbled out of the playoff picture and finished the campaign in 8th – their highest league finish since 2013-14.
Once he signed on the dotted line, Buckley revealed his delight at extending his stay at his boyhood club, to RoversTV:
“I’m buzzing. It’s been going on for a while now and I’m over the moon to get everything done. I can’t wait to spend many more years at this football club. Everyone knows I’ve been here a very long time, but I love it here. I’m settled and I hope I can keep performing to help the club get back to the Premier League during my time here.
“It shows how much the club rates me and how much they want me here, which I really appreciate. For me, it was a no-brainer to sign a new deal. It’s been a big part of my life and I look forward to that continuing.”
Head Coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson echoed 22-year-old’s delight, expressing his pleasure at keeping one of his assets, who he believed can still reach unfathomable heights:
“It’s good news for the club and it’s also good news for John, because he’s at a very good club.
“I’m very happy that he’s signed a new deal because he’s a young boy who still needs to learn a lot, but he’s shown that he can play at this level and he’s a player with potential. Every player should be able to become better, especially at his age.
“He wants to learn, he’s very curious, he’s an intelligent football player, who thinks a lot about things, and I always have good chats with John regarding football, so in that way he will learn more.”
Director of Football Gregg Broughton also outlined how Buckley’s extension fell within the club’s long-term vision and how excited he and the club were for the midfielder to continue his development at Ewood Park:
“John’s contract extension is well-deserved for all of the hard work and dedication he has shown to his personal development over the past 12 months. For one of our Academy graduates, who has been at the club since the age of six, to commit for a further five years shows his passion and loyalty to Blackburn Rovers.
“We have talked with John about exposing him to different positions in midfield in order to increase his potential to become a Premier League footballer and he has fully embraced this challenge since pre-season.
“Although transfers and players coming in are always the stories that supporters want to read about, for us to build a club based on excellence in player trading, we also have to prioritise the contract management of our own players, especially those who have come through our Academy.”
