Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Rovers signed midfielder, Steven N'Zonzi, from Amiens of France for a fee of £650,000 in the summer of 2009.

The tall, ball playing midfielder appeared to be a signing for the development team at first glance. However, it soon became apparent that Sam Allardyce had spotted a player, ready to go straight into the first team. That is exactly what the Frenchman did, as he made his Rovers debut on the opening day of the 2009/10 season in a home game against Manchester City.

N'Zonzi would go on to impress the manager and the fans in his first season as a Rovers player, with his ability to play in tight spaces and pass the ball well, standing out as key qualities. Not to mention, the Frenchman's height and physicality made him an important player for Rovers at both ends of the pitch. He scored his first goal for Rovers in a defeat at The Emirates in October 2009, scoring with a looping header. His second Rovers goal came in April 2010 and was in the form of a screamer against Everton, during a narrow home defeat.

N'Zonzi made 38 appearances in total in the 2009/10 season, with 33 of those coming in the Premier League. He had established himself as the main midfielder in Big Sam's team and would see himself playing alongside one or more of Keith Andrews, Vince Grella and David Dunn throughout his debut campaign. The fans of Blackburn voted N'Zonzi as their player of the season in his first season, which shows the impression he made, as Rovers finished 10th in the Premier League and reached the League Cup semi finals.

The 2010/11 season saw N'Zonzi's appearances for Rovers reduce following the departure of Big Sam and the arrival of Steve Kean in the manager's seat. He scored his only goal of the campaign at St Andrews in August 2010 and was not in the matchday squad at all from the end of October 2010, up until mid January 2011. Despite seeing less game time, N'Zonzi did strike up a solid midfield pairing with on loan Schalke midfielder, Jermaine Jones, for the remainder of the season as the pair played their part in helping Rovers to stay in the Premier League on the final day of the season.

However, the writing was on the wall for Rovers, as a tumultuous 2011/12 season brought about an end to the club's long stay in the Premier League. N'Zonzi made 34 appearances that season in all competitions, but could do little to prevent Rovers dropping out of at the top flight under the stewardship of the worst manager in the club's history. He did score two goals that season, against QPR and Bolton respectively, but it was a season and a time with very little to look back on fondly.

Following Rovers' relegation, N'Zonzi was sold to then Premier League, Stoke City in August 2012. He later made moves to Sevilla, Roma and Galatasaray where he displayed how good a midfielder he really was. His impressive performances in Europe caught the attention of the Premier League big guns, though no move back to England materialised.

Despite, the way his time was Rovers ended, N'Zonzi will be remembered as being a neat and tidy footballer who should have continued to flourish under Big Sam or another competent manager. Sadly, Steven was only able to play under a real manager at Blackburn for one season, before Big Sam was sacked.

N'Zonzi made 96 appearances for Rovers in total over a three year period and scored five goals. Here are those goals.