Blackburn sign striker McCarthy
Blackburn sign striker McCarthy - from BBC SPORT
Benni McCarthy
McCarthy was linked with a string of Premiership clubs in recent seasons
Blackburn have signed Porto striker Benni McCarthy on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The South Africa international, 28, has had spells with Ajax and Celta Vigo, and was part of the Porto side which won the Champions League in 2004.
"We tried to sign Benni 12 months ago and we have been tracking the situation since then," Blackburn chief executive John Williams told the club's website.
"We are delighted that we have managed to bring him to Rovers."
Rovers are reported to have paid a fee of about £2.5m for McCarthy, who had previously been linked with moves to Everton, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and West Ham.
McCarthy, who started his career at feeder club Ajax Cape Town, has won 47 caps for South Africa, scoring 21 goals.
He played at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups with South Africa.
Comments
This is an excellent signing for Rovers and shows their ambition to stay in the European places this coming season. Hopefully Benni will help us to make an impression in the UEFA Cup as well.
Well Done, Rovers!!
Posted by: kev | July 28, 2006 10:13 AM
Benni is starting to make his transfer fee look ludicrously small - his superbly-taken goal last night to help Rovers to qualify for the group stages of the UEFA Cup repaid a whole chunk of the fee in one go.
Porto's loss is definitely a huge gain for Rovers.
Rovers to win the UEFA Cup? - definitely - if they play like they did last night.
Posted by: kev | September 29, 2006 9:57 AM