Blackburn Rovers have completed the signing of Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi.
Blackburn Rovers have completed the signing of Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi.
The 28-year-old has departed Ipswich Town, shunning the chance to remain in Suffolk.
Kuqi has signed a three-year deal at Ewood Park and is Rovers' first signing of the summer.
The Finn was voted Ipswich Player of the Year last season after bagging 20 goals.
Kuqi says that a conversation with Rovers boss Mark Hughes was enough to make him want to move to Ewood Park.
"I spoke to Mark Hughes and it was a great conversation," said Kuqi.
"It made me even more interested to come here. He is a big hero, he was a lot of fans' favourite player, even in Kosovo, people spoke highly of him.
"He told me that I was wanted and I'm ready, I'm not going to say I'll be playing week-in and week-out but my target is to do my best and see what will happen."
Kuqi believes that after spells with Stockport, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich, he is now ready to step up to the top flight.
"It was always my goal to play in the Premier League and now I'm here I'm really delighted.
"There are only four clubs who have won the Premiership and Blackburn are one of them, so I'm really pleased and delighted to be here.
"It is a huge step up to the Premiership but I feel fully confident I can play in the Premiership, I've played a few times for the national team against big countries like the Czech Republic and Holland and I haven't seen many problems.
"As soon as I cross the white line, I don't care who I play against, I just go out to do my best and if I do that I know I can do a good job, and hopefully the fans will like that."
