Blackburn Rovers have swooped for Turkey international Yildiray Basturk, after the attacking midfielder was convinced to move from Stuttgart by former Ewood Park favourite Tugay.

The 31-year-old has signed a permanent deal for an initial six months but if he impresses, Sam Allardyce's team will look to offer him a new contract in the summer.

Basturk, who was born in Germany and has played his entire professional career in the Bundesliga, told Rovers Player TV: "I had contact with Blackburn for three months and I spoke to Tugay, and he said it was a very good club and to come here and try it.

Tugay always told me what a good club Blackburn is, and over the last three or four weeks he told me I should take this chance.
Yildiray Basturk on his decision to join Blackburn Rovers

"I played about 50 games for the national team with Tugay and he always told me what a good club Blackburn is, and over the last three or four weeks he told me I should take this chance. I know how the people here love him, and I will meet him in the next few days and he will help me settle in."

Basturk has a wealth of experience with both club and country, having won 49 caps for his national team and featured in the side that finished third at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™.

He previously played for the likes of Bayer Leverkusen - with whom he reached the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League final, which they lost to Real Madrid - and Hertha Berlin, before moving to Stuttgart in 2007.