McCarthy bolsters Blackburn attack

Blackburn Rovers FC have signed Benni McCarthy from FC Porto for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.

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The 28-year-old South Africa striker, who helped Porto win the 2004 UEFA Champions League, has long been linked with a move to England. He first arrived in Europe in 1997 when he signed for AFC Ajax. He spent two years there before moving on to RC Celta de Vigo. A loan switch to Porto followed midway through the 2001/02 campaign before McCarthy finally left Spanish football in July 2003. He made a total of 86 league appearances for Porto, scoring 46 goals.

'Delighted'
Blackburn chief executive John Williams said: “We tried to sign Benni 12 months ago and we have been tracking the situation since then. We are delighted that we have managed to bring him to Rovers.” McCarthy, who has been capped 65 times by his country with 28 goals, will help boost Blackburn’s attack for the forthcoming UEFA Cup campaign, starting in September’s first round. The club had seen Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov depart this summer but have recruited English forwards Jason Roberts and Francis Jeffers.