Rovers swoop for Seagulls starlet

Rovers are delighted to complete the capture of highly-rated midfielder Andrew Moran from Premier League leaders Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Seagulls starlet joins on a season-long loan deal and becomes Rovers’ fifth summer signing.

A Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, Moran joined Brighton in 2020 from Bray Wanderers, where he was playing first team football by the age of 15 – making him the youngest player in the club’s history.

After making an immediate impression in Brighton’s youth teams, he was handed his professional debut in August 2021, aged just 17, coming on in Albion’s 2-0 Carabao Cup victory away to Cardiff City.

Moran enjoyed a standout season in 2022-23, scoring 13 goals and claiming six assists in 23 appearances for Brighton’s Under-21s, whilst also making his Premier League debut in Brighton’s 4-1 victory over Everton in January.

The creative teenage talent was rewarded with a new four-year deal at the Amex Stadium in April and rounded off a memorable campaign by scoring his first Republic of Ireland Under-21s goal in a 2-2 draw with Ukraine in June.

The 19-year-old has maintained his fine form at the start of this season, scoring twice in Brighton’s 3-2 Papa Johns Trophy triumph over Walsall in midweek.

Moran, who will wear the number 24 shirt with Rovers, has been signed in time to feature at Watford tomorrow, subject to approval from the football authorities, and is eligible to play for the club in both domestic cup competitions this season.

Rovers’ Director of Football, Gregg Broughton, said: “We are delighted to welcome Andy to Blackburn Rovers. He is a player that we have worked hard on all summer to attract to the club.

“Andy in one of the many talented young Irish players to have been recruited by Brighton and he will bring a great attacking threat to our squad.

“He is capable of playing centrally and in wide areas, he is very comfortable in possession and he is aggressive without the ball. We would like to thank Brighton for their support with this loan deal, which we hope will be very successful for all parties.”

Welcome, Andy!