Rovers return for prodigal Dunn

David Dunn has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Blackburn after his former club recaptured the midfielder from Birmingham tonight.

Birmingham confirmed Dunn has left the club to rejoin Rovers for “an undisclosed fee”, thought to be a package worth around £2.2m (€3.4m), dependent on appearances.

Rovers were given permission to talk to the player this morning after agreeing a fee despite the 27-year-old having passed a medical at Lancashire rivals Bolton yesterday.

Dunn has been seeking a move to his native north-west since the start of the January transfer window, having failed to really impress at St Andrews due to persistent injuries.

Blues boss Steve Bruce always maintained he would not stand in the creative midfielder’s way, providing he received a fair price.

The manager told the club’s official website www.bcfc.com today: “I wish him the best of luck and hope that the change of environment gets him to stay fit because it’s a crying shame with the talent that he’s got that we’ve never really seen the best of him at Birmingham.

“He was a young lad coming here and we paid £5.5m (€8.4m) for him some three and a half years ago.

“It hasn’t worked out but, even from the little bits that he’s played, we can all see that he’s one of those unique ones that can do something different.”

Dunn, who has one England cap, suffered a recurring hamstring injury, which was linked to a back problem, but despite an operation he continued to struggle.

He has seemingly regained full fitness, prompting Bolton and Blackburn to bid for his services.

Dunn previously made 169 appearances for Rovers, helping the club gain promotion back to the Premiership and win the Worthington Cup in 2002.

However, after a bitter fall-out with Graeme Souness, he was sold to Birmingham for £5.5m (€8.4m) in 2003.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce admitted he felt let down by Dunn’s decision to join Blackburn.

“At the 11th hour they (Blackburn) have pinched him. We are extremely disappointed, but there is not a lot we can do about it.

“I always feel let down when you have got so far down the road spending so much time showing the player this is the best place to be to get his career back on track.

“But it was not quite a big enough pull compared to the town where he was born and bred.”