Everton are monitoring Blackburn Rovers right-back Ryan Alebiosu as they look to solve a problem position that David Moyes has been patching all season, with the 23-year-old Nigerian international attracting interest from Rangers and Wolfsburg as well and with Blackburn likely to demand £8-10m to part with a player whose contract runs until 2028.
Moyes has used Jake O’Brien, a centre-back by trade, and James Garner, a midfielder, at right-back this season due to the absence of Nathan Patterson, who has once again been limited by fitness and consistency issues. With Seamus Coleman in the final phase of his career, the need for a permanent, natural solution at right-back is clear and pressing, and Alebiosu fits the profile Everton are looking for both in terms of age and attacking output.
Why Ryan Alebiosu is on Everton’s radar
Alebiosu has been one of Blackburn’s most consistent players this season and has been shortlisted for their player of the year award. In 38 Championship appearances, 36 of which were starts, he has accumulated over 3,100 minutes, scored once and created five assists. His Expected Assists figure of 6.37 is striking for a full-back and reflects how involved he is in Blackburn’s attacking play. He has also created 12 big chances across the campaign, a number that comfortably outperforms what Everton have been getting from their right-back options.
His game is built around forward runs, crossing from wide areas and the ability to shoot from distance, with a solid defensive base underneath it. Moyes has not had a right-back who offers genuine attacking thrust from that position since Coleman was in his prime, and Alebiosu would change that immediately. His AFCON appearances for Nigeria add an international credential that further supports the argument that he is ready for the step up to the Premier League.
Can Everton sign Alebiosu?
Everton are not the only club tracking him. Genoa made a formal approach of around £4.3m during the January transfer window, which Blackburn rejected.
Rangers and Wolfsburg have both been linked. Journalist Ekrem Konur has confirmed Everton are among the clubs keeping close tabs on the player. Blackburn hold all the structural leverage, Alebiosu’s contract runs until June 2028 with an option for a further year meaning they are under no obligation to engage with offers below their valuation. A bid in the region of £8-10m is considered the figure most likely to open serious negotiations.
For Everton, the attraction is not just quality but value. Genoa’s rejected offer of £4.3m effectively sets a floor, and a deal at £8-10m for a 23-year-old Championship player of the year contender with proven attacking numbers represents reasonable outlay for a position that has been a structural weakness all season.
The additional carrot Everton can offer over Rangers and Wolfsburg is the prospect of European football, which remains achievable even after their recent results. Moyes has a track record of turning Championship-level defenders into reliable Premier League performers, and if the European push holds, Alebiosu could be convinced that Everton represents the smartest next step in his development.