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Blackpool have released veteran striker Jordan Rhodes and Jake Daniels, the only openly gay professional footballer in English football.

Rhodes, 35, scored 15 goals in 50 league appearances for the League One side and ended the season on loan with third tier rivals Mansfield Town.

Fellow striker Daniels, 20, came out in May 2022 shortly after making his only senior appearance for the club.

The Seasiders are in discussions with defender Matthew Pennington, 30, and midfielder Sonny Carey, 27, about extending their contracts.

Daniels posted on Instagram: "To all the fans who believed in me, supported me through a crazy few years, I want to thank you.

"Thanks to all the staff for supporting me through 13 years of getting me to the point I am at today, and thank you for all my teammates who have been on the journey with me.

"I have people to prove wrong. My career is only just starting."

Defender Jordan Gabriel, 26, and midfielder Oliver Norburn, 32, and Josh Onomah, 28, are also leaving the Lancashire side.

Steve Bruce's side finished ninth in League One, 11 points off the play-off places.

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Blackpool have boosted their defensive options for next season with a double swoop for out of contract Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe.

Steve Bruce's League One outfit have snapped up 28-year-old Horsfall on a four-year deal following the end of a spell at third tier rivals Stockport County.

And they have also added 32-year-old Ihiekwe following his release by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

"We're delighted to get someone of Fraser's calibre signed early as he demonstrates the leadership qualities we're looking for to compete at the top end of this division," Bruce told the club website, external.

"And [with Michael] his CV speaks for itself with four promotions from this division already. We are hopeful his experience will help us reach our goals this season."

Horsfall narrowly missed out on promotion with Stockport, who lost on penalties in the play-off semi-finals to Leyton Orient.

But the former County captain has reset his sights on promotion with Blackpool next season as he prepares to join Steve Bruce's squad.

"With the size of this club they shouldn't be in this league, so the main goal is promotion," said Horsfall.

Ihiekwe joins the Seasiders on a three-year deal from 1 July with four promotions from League One under his belt, three with Rotherham and most recently with the Owls back in 2023.

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Blackpool have signed former Millwall midfielder George Honeyman and forward Niall Ennis from Stoke, with both agreeing two-year deals.

Honeyman previously played for Sunderland and Hull City, is out of contract with the Lions later this month.

The 30-year-old joined Millwall from Hull in 2022 and made a total of 117 appearances for the club in all competitions.

"The gaffer has played a huge part. I was lucky to train under him a little bit when I was a young lad making my way through at Sunderland and he's someone I've always admired," he said of Blackpool boss Steve Bruce., external

"I can't wait to work with him here at this great club and get playing in front of the Tangerine Army."

Niall Ennis scored seven goals in a 19 game loan spell at Blackpool last season

Ennis has signed for an undisclosed fee and his contract has the option of a third year.

The 26-year-old spent the second half of last season with Steve Bruce's team and scored seven goals in the 19 games of his loan spell.

"We are delighted to welcome Niall back to Blackpool on a permanent basis," Bruce told the club's website, external.

"He hit the ground running for us last season, making a real impact at the top end of the pitch with some memorable goals."

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Blackpool have signed Argentine goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli following his release from Wycombe Wanderers at the end of last season.

The 27-year-old made 42 league appearances for the Chairboys across two seasons following his move from MK Dons in 2023.

He represented both Independiente and River Plate's youth teams before moving to England and then sixth-tier club Eastbourne Borough in 2020.

"Franco has had an impressive couple of seasons at this level, and we're looking forward to watching him progress further in his career here at Blackpool," Tangerines boss Steve Bruce told the club website.

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Blackpool have signed Leyton Orient midfielder Jordan Brown for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old has agreed a four-year contract at Bloomfield Road with an option for a further 12 months.

Brown made 154 appearances for Orient, the final one in last season's League One play-off final at Wembley when they lost 1-0 to Charlton Athletic.

"Jordan has played an important role at Leyton Orient over recent years," said Seasiders boss Steve Bruce. "He possesses real ability in the middle of the pitch and we're looking forward to seeing him in action in tangerine this season and beyond."

Blackpool, who start the new season with a home game against Stevenage on 2 August, have now made six summer signings.

Brown's arrival follows Franco Ravizzoli, George Honeyman, Niall Ennis, Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe.

"The club speaks for itself in where it has been over the years and I want to be a part of that," he said.

"To work under the gaffer is also something I'm looking forward to. He's achieved so much in the game and it's clear he wants to get this club promoted and back to where it should be."

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Crystal Palace right-back Danny Imray has joined Blackpool on a season-long loan.

The 21-year-old, who can also play as a wing-back, spent last season on loan at Bromley in their first season in League Two, making 43 appearances, providing seven assists and scoring twice.

Palace signed Imray as a 17-year-old after he had impressed while playing for non-league Chelmsford City.

Blackpool head coach Steve Bruce told the club website, external: "He has real potential which he has demonstrated on a consistent basis in League Two last season, and we believe he has the attributes to make the step up to the next level."

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Blackpool have signed Birmingham City goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell on a season-long loan deal.

The 28-year-old Northern Ireland international made nine appearances as Blues won the League One title last season.

He started his career with Leeds United before joining Burnley, where he spent five years, in 2019.

"I'm really excited to get started as this season is going to be a brilliant challenge for me and I believe this club is going to do good things this year," he told the club website., external

Blackpool start the new season at home to Stevenage on 2 August, having finished ninth in 2024-25.

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Blackpool have signed winger Malcolm Ebiowei in a permanent deal from Crystal Palace.

Ebiowei moves to Bloomfield Road on a two-year contract, with the club holding the option for a further year.

The 21-year-old made his first-team debut at 18 with Derby County, where he played 16 games before the Eagles bought him.

But he only played five games for Palace and had loan spells in the Championship with Hull City and Oxford United and in Belgium with RWD Molenbeek.

After linking up with Steve Bruce's squad in League One, he told the club's website, external: "The conversations we had were nothing but positive and I'm really looking forward to the future here and playing in front of the supporters."

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Blackpool have signed forward Dale Taylor from Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a four-year deal with the option of a further year.

The 21-year-old has made almost 100 appearances in League One, having had spells on loan with Burton Albion, Wycombe Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, and joins for an undisclosed fee.

A Northern Ireland international, Taylor came through Linfield's youth setup before joining Forest in 2020, however, his solitary appearance for the club came in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town in August 2022.

"I'm absolutely delighted and excited to be here, as it has been a long time in the making.

"I have spoken to the manager quite a bit, and where he wants to take this club is very exciting for me and a real inspiration behind the decision to join this massive club."

Taylor is the third player Blackpool have paid a fee for so far this summer, in addition to midfielder Jordan Brown and winger Malcolm Ebiowei.