Defender Berner joins Blackburn

The 29-year-old left-back has moved to Ewood Park for a nominal transfer fee after a successful week-long trial.

Rovers have the option to keep Berner, who has 16 caps for Switzerland, at the club for a further year.

"He gives us some competition and has a good left foot, he's a good athlete and balances the squad up very nicely," said Rovers boss Mark Hughes.

Berner is ineligible to play for Rovers in their Uefa Cup tie against Bayer Leverkusen on 14 February as he has already featured for Basle.

The defender started his career with Zurich side Grashoppers before moving to German side SC Freiburg.

Berner returned to Switzerland with Basle at the start of last season.

He becomes Blackburn's fourth signing of the transfer window following David Dunn, Christopher Samba and Stephen Warnock.

Hughes added: "I believe we are now a stronger squad than we were at the start of the transfer window.

"We are in the top 10 and it is important we stay there. There is no reason why we can't establish ourselves then towards the end of the season have a real go at trying to get back into Europe."

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