Blackburn Rovers have made a significant addition to their squad with the loan signing of Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis from Nottingham Forest. The announcement was made on Monday on the Championship team’s official website, confirming Dennis as their third signing of the day alongside Yuri Ribeiro from Braga and Cauley Woodrow from Luton Town.
Dennis, 27, has had an impressive career so far, starting out with Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk where he made a memorable debut by scoring the opening goal in a 3-0 victory in July 2016. He went on to showcase his talents in the Europa League against top teams like Feyenoord, Fenerbahce, and Manchester United, adding five more league goals to his name as Zorya finished third in the 2016-17 Ukrainian Premier League season.
The Nigerian striker then made a move to Belgian outfit Club Brugge in 2017, where he continued his goal-scoring form with 19 league goals in 85 appearances. A loan spell at FC Koln in Germany followed before Dennis made his way to England, joining Watford in June 2021. He made an immediate impact with 10 Premier League goals in 30 starts, including a debut goal in a thrilling 3-2 win over Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest saw his potential and secured his services for a reported £20m fee in August 2022. Dennis continued to impress in the Premier League, finding the net against the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle United. Loan spells at Istanbul Basaksehir and a return to Watford followed, showcasing his versatility and goal-scoring prowess.
With eight caps for the Nigerian national team, Dennis brings experience and quality to Blackburn Rovers as they aim to bolster their attacking options. The club expressed their excitement at welcoming the talented striker and are hopeful that he can rediscover his goal-scoring touch at Ewood Park.
The deal is still subject to approval from the relevant football authorities, but Blackburn Rovers fans can look forward to seeing Emmanuel Dennis in action and making a positive impact for the team in the remainder of the season. Welcome to Ewood Park, Emmanuel!