Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Rovers signed experienced striker, Benjani, on a free transfer in August 2010 after his contract had expired at Manchester City.

The Zimbabwean striker, aged 32 at the time, signed a one year deal, with the option of a year's extension. On paper, the signing looked to be another shrewd Sam Allardyce pick up, with Benjani bringing much experience to a Rovers attacking line consisting of the likes of Nikola Kalinic and Mame Biram Diouf.

Benjani made his Rovers debut in a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Ewood Park in September 2010, coming off the bench for the final 25 minutes. He scored his first goal for Rovers against Chelsea at Ewood Park in October 2010.

Due to Jason Roberts and Nikola Kalinic being favoured as the main striking options, Benjani saw limited game time and minutes. He made 18 appearances in the Premier League in the 2010/11 campaign, starting only six of those games and coming off the bench 12 times. A somewhat sad statistic is that Benjani never completed a full 90 minutes in a Blackburn Rovers shirt.

However, he did start and complete 84 minutes in his most memorable game for the club. A game which saw him put Liverpool to the sword in January 2011. The striker scoring twice, as Rovers comfortably beat the Reds 3-1 at Ewood Park.

Benjani would only spend one season as a Blackburn Rovers player. It can be argued that he was unfortunate to have signed for Rovers at the wrong time. The reason for this being, that the club fell into turmoil months into his arrival due to an embarrassing takeover and managerial upheaval. A case of 'right club, wrong time'. Benjani left Rovers in July 2011 and returned to Portsmouth on a free, in time for the 2011/12 season.

Benjani made 21 appearances in total for Rovers during his solitary season at the club, scoring three goals. Here are those goals.