Following the influx of youth academy graduates into the Rovers first-team squad, the Blues have announced that Jake Garrett has been awarded with a new five-year-deal at Ewood Park.
The tough-tackling midfielder, who has penned until 2027, broke through into Jon Dahl Tomasson’s squad after impressing the Dane during pre-season and the early part of the 2022-23 campaign and clearly showed enough to be rewarded with new terms as Rovers look to continue to utilise their Category One academy to its full potential.
Garrett, who has been at Rovers since the tender age of nine, has worked his way through the ranks at Ewood Park before being rewarded with his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup Second Round victory, away at Bradford City in August – a game in which Garrett played 79 minutes as Rovers ran out 2-1 victors. The 20-year-old, who arrived at Ewood after spells at both, Liverpool and Everton’s academies, has also made waves in international youth football following time with the Three Lions’ under-15s and under-16s.
Since catching the eye of Jon Dahl Tomasson, Garrett has featured in 13 first-team games this season, including making his Championship debut – and impressing as he played the full 90 minutes – in Rovers’ 2-0 Ewood Park victory over Sunderland in October. Through his performances, Garrett began to endear himself to the home crowd, with his fine displays even earning him a starting spot in the East Lancashire Derby versus Burnley.
Once the ink had dried on the contract, Garrett expressed his delight, to RoversTV after securing his long-term future. The midfielder also discussed how his teammates welcomed him into the squad with open arms, as well as his personal and collective ambitions for the future.
“I’m delighted that I’ve been offered this deal and I just want to give something back over the next five years and get this club to where we want it to be.
“It’s an exciting time and that’s why I’m really pleased to be around it. The lads are doing really well and since I’ve come up from the Academy, they’ve always been around me and helping me.
“When I made my debut, they were all getting around me and making sure I wasn’t nervous, and things like that. They’re a great bunch of lads and I’m happy to be here amongst them.
“We’re all hoping to finish in the play-off positions, but we’re just taking every game as it comes. We’re focused and we’re ready for whoever comes in front of us, which is exciting because we’re all in a good place and we’re all together. I feel like the bond between the team is strong, so it’s exciting times.
“I’m making sure I’m ready whenever the gaffer needs me or the team needs me. In the next year or two, I want to make sure I’m in the squad 100% and helping the team every week, but at the minute I just want to make sure that, on and off the pitch, I’m ready in case I’m called upon.”
Congratulations, Jake!
