Gemma Donnelly believes Rovers have landed a ‘special’ signing in Annabel Blanchard.

The attacker joins from Leicester City as Rovers look finish off a very promising campaign, sitting fifth at the halfway stage, ahead of the weekend trip to London City.

Blanchard scored three times in 20 appearances across an 18-month spell with the Foxes who are currently three points clear at the top of the Women’s Championship.

And delighted with her new addition, Donnelly said: “Annabel joins us from Leicester and for me is an exciting player with heaps of potential.

“I have been an admirer of Annabel from afar and to be able to bring her to Blackburn is very special.

“She typically is a tenacious and intelligent No.10, but can also play as a No.9 with an eye for goal.

“She’s a young talent and one that I believe has the ambition and determination to play at the top level.

“We can provide that platform and I am excited to see how she can complement our squad.

“With thanks to Leicester for helping to make this happen.”

A former Liverpool youngster, Blanchard made her first-team debut for the Reds in the Women’s Super League in April 2018. She then captained Liverpool’s Development Team as they won the FA WSL Development League title in 2018/19.

The teenager, who has represented England at Under-19s level, is excited by the prospect of regular first-team football.

She said: “I’m just grateful for Gemma for giving me the opportunity and I just can’t wait to get started now.

“I’m at a time where I want to be developing, I want to be playing. I’m happy to come here to work hard and prove why I should be playing. I just feel like this is the right place for me at this moment in time.

“I’ll work hard for the team, I like to think I’m creative and can create chances for other people and hopefully I can contribute with goals as well.

“I feel like I developed a lot at Liverpool and hopefully I can come here and do the same and just carry on my career playing as much football as I can and enjoying it as much as possible.

“It will be good to get back with the girls (I know), hopefully we’ll all know how each other play and it’s exciting to get started.

“I’m excited to get into training this week, work hard and hopefully at the weekend get an opportunity to play and help the team get three points.

“I just hope to help the team as much as possible, pick up as many points as possible and that’s the main thing, pushing the team upwards.”