• Blackburn's Nigerian striker in move to China
• Paul Robinson heads towards Ewood exit door
Yakubu Ayegbeni has ended his nine-year stay in English football to sign for the Chinese club Guangzhou on a three-year contract.
The Nigeria international was entitled to leave Blackburn Rovers for a fee of around £1m following the club's relegation from the Premier League and activated the clause to become the latest big-name striker to accept a lucrative deal in China. Yakubu was a rare success story under the Blackburn manager, Steve Kean, scoring a total of 18 goals in his one season with Rovers following a £1.5m transfer from Everton. He may soon be followed out of Ewood Park by the former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who is in talks over a move to the Turkish club Besiktas.
Yakubu, 29, enjoyed a prolific career in England with Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester City and finally Blackburn. The striker had several offers to remain in the Premier League but claims a new challenge in China, and not the substantial wages on offer, was behind his move to Guangzhou.
"It's a new adventure for me after playing in Israel and England," he said. "There were many clubs interested according to the media, but the only people who made direct contact have been Guangzhou R&F. 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.
"Money cannot buy you happiness and what I have found from the people in China is love, happiness, sincerity and warmth. 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."
Robinson, meanwhile, is also expected to leave following Rovers' relegation and has been offered the chance to succeed the veteran Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber, who has announced his retirement, in Istanbul. Blackburn, who have signed Danny Murphy on a free transfer from Fulham, are hopeful of signing Leon Best from Newcastle United. Read More
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