Blackburn Rovers had lucky escape after transfer deal for prolific Japanese striker broke down | OneFootball

Rovers fans will be thankful Ryo Germain did not follow Yuki Ohashi to Ewood Park

In the summer of 2024, Blackburn Rovers made headlines when they moved quickly to tap into the Japanese market for talent.

With Yuki Ohashi already signed from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, reports emerged from journalist that Rovers had agreed a deal in principle for another in-form Japanese forward - Ryo Germain.

At the time, Germain was in red-hot form, having netted 14 goals in 19 J League appearances for Jubilo Iwata, and looked set to follow his countryman to Ewood Park.

However, whilst terms were agreed in principle, the transfer quietly collapsed, after the last report of it some eight days before the deadline claimed that it "hung in the balance". What initially seemed like a missed opportunity has turned out to be a fortunate escape for Blackburn.

Ryo Germain's decline shows Blackburn Rovers made the right call

Ryo Germain’s form nosedived not long after the proposed transfer to England fell through. Though he was prolific during the first half of the 2024 season, his output dwindled.

In January 2025, he transferred to Sanfrecce Hiroshima - the club Ohashi had departed just months prior - but he has failed to rediscover his spark.

So far in the 2025 J League campaign, Germain has scored just four goals, which is a far cry from his peak numbers at Jubilo Iwata.

The drop-off in his performances since the Rovers links suggests that the move to the Championship might have come at the wrong time for the 29-year-old.

While his 32 goals in 101 games for Jubilo looked respectable on paper, much of that tally was padded by one purple patch.

Add the likely challenges of adapting to a new country, culture, and playing style, and it’s easy to see why Blackburn may now be counting their blessings.

Blackburn didn’t need Germain - Yuki Ohashi has been a revelation and Makhtar Gueye has showed promise too

If Germain had made the switch, he’d have joined a squad already adapting to life with Yuki Ohashi - and it’s now clear that Rovers didn’t need another Japanese attacker.

Ohashi’s debut season in English football has been nothing short of impressive: the 28-year-old hit double figures, including a dramatic final day goal at Bramall Lane, and quickly became a Rovers fan favourite.

His performances didn’t go unnoticed in Japan either: Ohashi was rewarded with his first senior national team call-up in November 2024, coming off the bench in a World Cup qualifier against Indonesia.

From scoring in each of his first three games for Rovers to earning international honours, Ohashi has made a seamless transition from the J League to the Championship.

He’s also spoken openly about the challenges of adapting to life in England, thanking the club’s staff, players and fans for their support during his early months. His humility and work rate have only further endeared him to the Blackburn faithful.

Makhtar Gueye, another arrival last summer but from Belgian outfit Oostende, has also showed signs of life in his first year at Ewood Park, and he offers something different to most Rovers strikers of recent years.

With Ohashi thriving and Germain struggling, Blackburn’s failed transfer now looks like a stroke of good fortune rather than a ‘one that got away’ tale.