STEPHANE Henchoz has agreed to join Liverpool in a £3.5 million deal, which will be completed as soon as he is able to take the usual medicals.

Both Blackburn Rovers and the Anfield club confirmed today that the Swiss defender would be cashing in on an escape clause in his Ewood contract.

It is a move we first revealed on May 13, the day after Rovers' relegation to Division One was confirmed and it comes despite continued efforts by Rovers to persuade Henchoz to sign a new deal.

His current contract with Rovers has a year to run but relegation triggered the escape clause at a fixed fee of £3.5 million, which is a profit of £900,000 for Rovers who paid Hamburg £2.6 million for him two years ago.

Reports yesterday in other media, claiming that Henchoz was keeping his options open and might stay with Rovers, were well wide of the mark.

For Ewood chief executive John Williams revealed today that the club had been told of the impending move by the player's agent over the weekend.

"We then spoke to Peter Robinson at Liverpool yesterday and assume that he has agreed personal terms and will go there," he said. Anfield executive vice-chairman Peter Robinson confirmed that.

He said: "We have agreed a fee with Blackburn Rovers and we have also agreed personal terms with the player.

"It's now a question of waiting for the player to be able to take a medical which we hope will happen in about 10 days time."

Henchoz is currently recovering from groin surgery. He will also need a work permit but that should not be a problem given his appearances record for Rovers.

The Swiss star proved an outstanding capture since being signed by Roy Hodgson. He came to terms with the Premiership and played consistently well last season, despite the team's relegation.

He also played through the pain barrier, delaying surgery in a bid to help keep Rovers in the top flight.

But there was never much doubt that he would move as soon as relegation became reality.

Damien Johnson was sent off in Scotland last night as Northern Ireland under-21s lost their President's Cup match 1-0 to the Republic of Ireland. The Ewood midfielder collected two bookings within a matter of seconds after the break - the first for an altercation with the Republic's Robbie Ryan and the second for dissent.

It was a bad-tempered game in the triangular tournament, settled by an early goal from Barry Ferguson.

CIS will complete their four-year sponsorship deal at Ewood at reduced terms, as we revealed last week.

But the Manchester-based finance giant also said today that they would be prepared to consider negotiating a new deal after their four-year contract ends next summer, should Rovers reclaim their Premiership place.

Ewood chief executive John Williams said: "We have had to renegotiate the terms of the deal due to our change in status, but that is perfectly understandable.

"In line with everyone here, CIS wants to be associated with the Premier League.

"But they appreciate and acknowledge our determination to make an immediate return and have already expressed a willingness to continue as sponsor in the event of us winning promotion."

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