ZIMBABWE captain and former Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari has signed for Blackburn Rovers.
The striker, 32, signed a one-year deal with the Lancashire club on Friday with an option for a one year extension.
Mwaruwari, who was a free agent after leaving City at the end of last season, has been a long-time target of Rovers boss Sam Allardyce.
The striker told New Zimbabwe.com: “I am delighted to be joining Blackburn. The manager has shown confidence in me and I hope I can repay the Blackburn fans with goals.
“It was always my desire to finish my playing career in England, and I may just have got my wish.”
The deal though came too late for Benjani to be included in the Rovers squad to play Arsenal at Ewood Park at lunchtime on Saturday.
The striker revealed he received offers from clubs in Qatar and France during the off-season but his target was to stay in England.
“I have to consider a lot of things now. My family lives in England and my kids go to school in Manchester, I wouldn’t want to uproot them. That would be selfish.”
Rovers become Benji’s third team in England after he joined Portsmouth from French club Auxerre in 2004 in a £4,1 million deal.