Emerton agrees four-year deal at Blackburn Rovers

9:30am Monday 21st July 2008

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BLACKBURN Rovers’ ‘Mr Versatile’ Brett Emerton has agreed a new long-term contract with the club.

The Australian international, who has now linked up with the rest of the senior squad in Germany following an extended summer break, has signed a four-year deal, which ties him to Rovers until the summer of 2012.

Emerton has become a pivotal member of the first-team squad since he joined the club from Feyenoord in 2003, filling a number of different roles under Graeme Souness, and then more recently Mark Hughes.

And although new boss Paul Ince has made the recruitment of a specialist right-back one of his top priorities this summer, he still sees Emerton as a key part of his future plans, hence his determination to tie up the 29-year-old on a longer deal.

Emerton still had two years left to run on his existing contract but was happy to commit for an extra two years on top, following talks.

Rovers' chairman, John Williams, said: “This is great news for the club.

“Brett has been an excellent servant over the last five years and we are delighted to have agreed a deal which keeps him here for another four years.

“He's a very willing member of the squad and a real club man.”

Signed by Souness, Emerton has made a total of 207 appearances for Rovers over the last five years, and his ability to play in a number of different positions makes him a valuable member of the squad.

He was recently given an extended summer break due to his international commitments during the close-season, but he is now back in training again and could play some part in tonight's friendly with Hoffenheim in Austria.