Blackburn Rovers agree player departure ahead of new signing

The Rovers Academy graduate has been on the periphery of the squad under Valerien Ismael. Youngster Kristi Montgomery was preferred to Rankin-Costello in the matchday squad at the end of last season.

With Ryan Alebiosu set to join imminently, as exclusively revealed by The Lancashire Telegraph, an agreement has been struck for Rankin-Costello to leave Ewood Park.

The Valley is his destination, as first reported by Alan Nixon, with Charlton keen to add more players with Championship experience to their ranks.

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After becoming an integral part of the Rovers team under Jon Dahl Tomasson, Rankin-Costello has waned. Callum Brittain re-established himself as the first choice at right-back under John Eustace and has remained so under Ismael.

Eustace did use the 25-year-old in central midfield, which looked a natural home, at the end of the 2023/24 season. However, the return of Lewis Travis and his partnership with Sondre Tronstad meant opportunities in the middle were limited.

Rovers now have Brittain, Montgomery, Leo Duru and soon will add Alebiosu to their options at right-back. In midfield, the addition of Sidnei Tavares and the retention of Adam Forshaw means that game time would have been limited for Rankin-Costello.

Though it is not the first time JRC has been out of favour, now seems a natural time to ensure he's playing regularly elsewhere. The versatile Academy product had looked like he was heading for the exit door even under Tomasson.

It wasn't until January that he returned from the cold after an injury crisis at right-back. His performances were outstanding, earning him the runner-up spot in the Player of the Season vote and a new four-year contract.

The move to Charlton brings an end to a decade at Blackburn Rovers. He joined the club from Manchester United in 2015 and went on to make more than 100 Championship appearances.