Rovers sign Friedel

Friedel goes straight into the Blackburn squad

Blackburn Rovers have completed the signing of Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel on a free transfer.

Friedel, who had not played for Liverpool in over a year, fell in the pecking order at Anfield behind Sander Westerveld and Pegguy Arphexad.

Friedel was forced to leave Anfield, after failing to play enough games to earn a new work permit at the club.

Blackburn manager Graeme Souness decided to take the opportunity to sign the player for a second time, after taking him to Turkish side Galatasary in 1995.

"Things didn't go particularly well at Liverpool," said Friedel. "I went there to win medals but that didn't happen. And when you see the writing on the wall you have to start things somewhere else.

Frustrating

"It was frustrating but it was just some red tape and some bad timing and it didn't work out.

"Graeme and I worked together in Turkey and hopefully we will be as successful here as we were there. We are going to work very hard to get this club back into the premier league."

Friedel will go straight into the squad for the First Division match with Barnsley at Oakwell.