Sammie Szmodics signs new deal with Blackburn

Deal keeps midfielder at Rovers until 2026

Author: PA Sport staffPublished 28th Nov 2023

Blackburn attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics has signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2026 with an option of a further year.

The 28-year-old is the top scorer in this season's Championship, netting his 11th league goal of the campaign in Saturday's 3-0 win away at Stoke.

That result saw Rovers climb to 10th in the table, three points shy of the play-off places, with Jon Dahl Tomasson's side having now won five of their last seven games after four consecutive losses.

Szmodics has played 58 times since arriving at Ewood Park from Peterborough in 2022 and was included in the Republic of Ireland squad for October's Euro 2024 qualifiers, though he is yet to make a senior international appearance.

Blackburn director of football Gregg Broughton told the club's website: "When we signed Sam, we had identified that we needed to add both athleticism and another goal threat to the squad and he has given us both of these qualities.

"As a leader and a personality within our group, his impact this season has also been first class. We look forward to watching his continued development with Blackburn Rovers."

Before joining Peterborough initially on loan in 2019 ahead of making the move permanent, he previously played for Braintree, Bristol City and hometown club Colchester, where he came thorough the youth system.

He is set to make the 250th appearance of his senior career when Rovers host Birmingham on Wednesday. Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.