Oladapo Afolayan joins Blackburn Rovers from St. Pauli
St. Pauli have completed the sale of English Nigeria-born forward Oladapo Afolayan to Championship side Blackburn Rovers, bringing an end to his two-year spell with the Hamburg-based club.
The 28-year-old was in the final months of his contract and had been widely expected to leave during the winter window.
While there had been speculation that his deal could be terminated to allow a free transfer, St. Pauli instead secured a small, undisclosed fee for the attacker. Afolayan currently has an estimated market value of €2.5 million.
Afolayan joined St. Pauli in January 2023 and played a notable role in the club’s successful push for promotion back to the Bundesliga.
Despite that contribution, his involvement this season had reduced significantly. He has not featured in a league match since November, although he was included in head coach Alexander Blessin’s squads for matchdays 17 and 18.
Promotion Campaign and contribution
During his time at the Millerntor, Afolayan established himself as an important attacking option.
He made 93 appearances in all competitions for St. Pauli, scoring 16 goals and providing seven assists.
His pace and direct style were key elements during the promotion-winning campaign that returned the club to Germany’s top flight after several years away.
In an official statement, the club acknowledged his impact and contribution. “FC St. Pauli would like to thank Dapo for his time with the club and his successes at the Millerntor,” the statement read.
“Since joining FC St. Pauli in January 2023, Afolayan has enriched the team with his pace, assertiveness, and goal-scoring threat,” it continued.
Club farewell amid mixed season
St. Pauli also highlighted promotion as a defining moment of Afolayan’s spell at the club. “A special milestone during his time with the club was the promotion to the Bundesliga,” the statement said.
“Afolayan made an important contribution to FC St. Pauli’s return to the top German division after many years with important actions, goals, and assists.”
The club concluded with a message of goodwill as Afolayan begins the next chapter of his career in England.
“We wish him all the best and every success in his future career with Blackburn Rovers and in his personal life. You will always be welcome at the Millerntor, Dapo!”
Afolayan now returns to English football as Blackburn look to strengthen their attacking options for the remainder of the season.
