Sydney FC have confirmed the signing of Brett Emerton on a three-year deal from Blackburn Rovers. The deal was completed on Wednesday night (AEST) allowing the 32-year old Australian international to return after 11 years away from home after playing with Feyenoord Rotterdam in Holland and English Premier League's Rovers.
Emerton, who is the second most capped Socceroo in history with 87 caps, said he was delighted to be joining two-time A-League champions Sydney - the city in which he was born and raised.
"This is an exciting opportunity for me," Emerton said. "I'm a Sydney boy and I'm looking forward to representing the people of Sydney every week and playing in front of friends, family and Sydney football fans.
"Football has been very good to me and I have always said I'd like to come back and play in the A-League while I still have something to offer and thanks to Sydney FC and Blackburn Rovers that opportunity has come about a bit earlier than I had thought."
Emerton will make his 247th and final appearance for Blackburn this Sunday when they take on Tim Cahill's Everton at Ewood Park before preparing for Australia's opening 2014 World Cup qualifiers in early September.
He becomes the second big-name signing for an A-League club in a matter of weeks following Harry Kewell's move to Melbourne Victory, setting up a tantalising A-League season opener between the two sides on October 8.
