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Shane Duffy pens three-year deal with Blackburn after signing from Everton

Everton defender Shane Duffy has joined Championship side Blackburn Rovers on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

The centre-back, who has won one Republic of Ireland cap, made 10 first-team appearances for the Toffees after arriving from Northern Irish amateur club Foyle Harps in November 2008.

Duffy spent last season on loan at Yeovil, making 37 league appearances as they were relegated from the Championship.

He had previously spent time on loan with Burnley, then in the Championship, and Scunthorpe, then in League One.

The 22-year-old told Blackburn's official website: "It was a tough decision to leave Everton, but it is a chance to come here and play football - that is my aim and hopefully I can do that. It is a new start for me.

"I was always in and around the first team for the last three years at Everton, but when there's that much quality ahead of you it is difficult to break in."

The 22-year-old, who made his Everton debut in a Europa League match against AEK Athens in December 2009, had to recover from a major early-career injury setback.

He needed life-saving surgery after damaging his liver in an accidental collision during a Republic of Ireland training squad match in May 2010.