Blackburn Rovers' deal to sign free agent Ryotaro Ito is reportedly on the verge of collapsing following medical tests.
Blackburn made a positive start to the 2026/27 Championship season when taking four points off automatic promotion candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers and Middlesbrough in the opening two fixtures, but they're since winless and sit 18th in the second tier standings.
Elimination from the EFL Cup in the second round was no tragedy given their severe lack of squad depth, but they've subsequently picked up just one point from a possible 12 on offer -- drawing to newly promoted Lincoln City and losing 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End and Sheffield United.
Blackburn were on the verge of adding more depth in the midfield department following Tony Mowbray's plea for signings, but the proposed deal is now set to collapse.
As per Blackburn Rovers reporter Elliott Jackson, Rovers' deal to sign Ryotaro Ito has broken down following issues flagged in the medical.
The contracts were reportedly in place to be signed, but the deal is now very unlikely to happen with the Lancashire outfit opting not to proceed.
Rovers manager Tony Mowbray shed light on the Ito deal when speaking in a press conference a day after his side's 2-1 defeat to the Blades.
He said: "He's not here anymore I don't think. I shook his hand, had a chat with him, a cup of tea in the dining room and then let everybody else get on with their jobs: the sports science, the medical department and the sporting directors who had been talking and discussing with the agents.
"We had a game. I'm not really sure what's happened after that. I came in here and thought a new signing was in the building, but at this moment nothing is done and nothing happened."
When questioned on the likelihood of the deal still going ahead, he replied:
"I genuinely don't know, but it would suggest to me -- (with) knowledge and experience, like I talked about there -- that it's not going to happen now."
While Mowbray implied that he wasn't sure as to why the deal has not been completed, journalist Sacha Tavolieri suggested that the medical staff detected some weakness around Ito's ankle.
The Japanese midfielder is a out-of-contract after his deal with Belgian outfit Sint-Truiden expired in the summer, and Blackburn may now be forced back into the free agent market to reassess their options.
