EWOOD new boy Brett Emerton today described his move to Rovers as a dream come true.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who has left Feyenoord for an undisclosed fee, will report for pre-season training on Monday after signing a four-year deal at Ewood Park.

And the versatile Aussie can't wait to follow in the footsteps of fellow countrymen like Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka by proving himself in the Premiership.

"I'm going to England to fulfil my dream, so it's not too difficult to leave Holland," said Rovers' new £2.5 million signing.

"But I'll always have good memories of Feyenoord.

"It's been a long time coming. Obviously I'm very delighted it's finally happened, I'm really looking forward to the season ahead.

"Blackburn is a great club, they performed well last season, finishing in the top six and they're only going to improve.

"I've always dreamed of playing in the Premiership so to finally achieve it is great.

"Now I just have to go out and perform. It's a step up from the Dutch league and hopefully I can live up to expectations."

Emerton was coveted by a host of different Premiership clubs and Newcastle and Middlesbrough both tried to hijack his move to Rovers earlier this week.

I have it on good authority that Magpies boss Bobby Robson even offered him more money to go to St James's Park while negotiations with Rovers were taking place.

However, Robson wanted to use him as a right-back whereas Emerton sees himself as more of a wide midfielder so he plumped for Rovers after Graeme Souness gave him guarantees that he would play him in his preferred position.

The Aussie ace was also attracted by the prospect of linking up with Lucas Neill and he believes their partnership on the right will also benefit the Australian national team.

"It's a bonus for me to have another Aussie there," said Emerton.

"Lucas is a great guy and it's going to be good to have him there.

"He'll probably be playing behind me in defence on the right side. We've got a good understanding which will be good for the club and for the national side as well."

Feyenoord's technical director Rob Baan believes Rovers will see the very best of Emerton.

"We used him as a right-back or right side of midfield and I think he can do that job very well for Blackburn," said Baan.

"His passing is excellent and above that he can also provide very good crosses as well as goals.

"He has been one of our best players but from the beginning Brett told us he wanted to play in the Premier League and that Feyenoord would be the first step.

"We all realised the next step would be England."

Souness saw the need to strengthen his squad after the departures of David Dunn and Keith Gillespie.

Dunn joined Birmingham for a fee believed to be around £5.5million - and Souness used the majority of that money to draft in Australian ace Emerton.

Gillespie left Blackburn this week to join Leicester after four-and-a-half years at the club.

Souness is also hoping to complete a deal for Lorenzo Amoruso today while Vratislav Gresko, who played on loan at Ewood from Parma in the latter part of last season, also remains a target and could sign next week.