Yakubu leaves Rovers for China

Yakubu Aiyegbeni has signed a three-year deal with Chinese club Guangzhou R&F after leaving Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

The Nigerian becomes the third Premier League striker to join the Chinese Super League in recent times, after Didier Drogba joined his former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai.

And the 29-year-old forward, who scored 137 goals in his nine-year spell at five English clubs, revealed he is looking forward to his new challenge.

“It’s a new adventure for me after playing in Israel and England,” he told reporters.

“I’ve been here for only three days and I can feel the love, warmth and the professional attitude of the people.

“There were many clubs interested according to the media, but the only people who made direct contact have been Guangzhou R&F.”

Yakubu enjoyed one of his most productive individual seasons in England last term, scoring 17 Premier League goals for the Lancashire outfit.

And, though he could not prevent Rovers’ relegation, the striker feels he has proved his worth in the Premier League and insisted he is not heading to China for money.

He added: “Many will ask why China? The truth is there is not much to prove after scoring almost a century of goals in a league considered as one of the best in the world.

“I thank Blackburn Rovers, the fans, fellow players for making my one season there seem like a decade – I appreciate their support (and) I hope the club will come back again into the top flight as soon as possible.

“Money cannot buy you happiness and what I have found from the people in China is love, happiness, sincerity and warmth (and) I can’t wait to get started here.

“They are starting an unbelievable football programme here and it’s nice to be a part of it.”