Tosin Adarabioyo earned a Premier League move on the back of his form at Rovers last season – joining another impressive former loanee at Craven Cottage.

Harrison Reed secured his permanent switch to Fulham from Southampton earlier this summer, after catching the eye while on loan.

Fulham beat Rovers to a loan deal in the summer of 2019, the Cottagers able to put together a more lucrative financial package for Southampton who had lent him to Rovers in 2018/19.

There his all-action style proved a hit with supporters, management and team-mates alike, but the prospect of an Ewood return for Adarabioyo was never likely.

He made 35 appearances in all for City, and the talk was he would return to the club he harboured hopes of captaining within five years to agree a new long-term contract.

However, that was forthcoming, and into his final year, Adarabioyo was keen to progress his career and opted for a switch to Fulham which at a reported £2m plus a 20 per cent sell-on fee could prove to be one of the bargains of the summer.

Adarabioyo had a loan spell at West Brom in 2018/19, but the majority of his appearances came at right back, his time at Rovers spent in his favoured, and more natural, central defensive birth.

He came up with three goals, and also went a whole season without a booking, making just 11 fouls in all, while his quality on the ball was telling.

Adarabioyo, who turned 23 last month, actually made his Rovers debut in a 2-0 defeat at Craven Cottage last August, while also featuring in the 1-0 defeat at Ewood in February.

And Fulham owner Tony Khan says his performances for Rovers were held in high regard by the newly-promoted, side and key to the deal was Adarabioyo’s willingness to make the move.

Khan said: "I’m very excited to announce the addition of Tosin Adarabioyo to Fulham Football Club on a permanent transfer from Manchester City.

“Tosin has developed as a player and grown into a formidable defender out on loan to the Championship the past two seasons, where we saw his contributions at Blackburn Rovers first-hand last season during our promotion campaign.

"Tosin has received positive ratings from our data team and our coaches, and most importantly Tosin himself badly wanted to join us, and he will come in and fight for our club."

Rovers have been reluctant to use the loan market in this window, with losing the quality of Adarabioyo a difficult task to find a replacement.

Because of that, Rovers went down the route of finding an experienced Championship campaigner, rather than a prospect, with Daniel Ayala signed on a three-year deal after leaving Middlesbrough.

Should they wish to go down the route of loaning Premier League youngsters, then the deadline for such deals is 5pm on Friday, October 16.