Striker Leon Best has left Blackburn Rovers by mutual consent after three years in Lancashire, the Championship club has confirmed.

Rovers have released a short statement on their official website confirming Best's "departure by mutual agreement", despite reports earlier in the summer that he would remain at the club.

The statement went on to thank the forward for his "hard work and dedication" on the pitch, wishing him "all the best for the future" as he begins his search for a new club.

Best was a financial burden for Rovers

The 28-year-old signed for Blackburn in the summer of 2012, soon after they had been relegated from the Premier League. The club splashed a reported fee of £3million on the powerful forward, but his £30,000/week wages had become something of a burden for a club battling with Financial Fair Play regulations.

However, less than a month after he put pen to paper on his four-year contract, he was struck by an anterior cruciate ligament injury which ruled him out of action for six months.

A long wait for his first Blackburn goal

He played only eight goalless games in all competitions in his first season with the club, and had to wait until the beginning of the 2013/14 season for his first goal.

It was at least an important one, as he volleyed home an 89th-minute equaliser in a league game away to Derby County in August 2013. It was one of only two goals he scored in a paltry 16 appearances for Rovers during his time at the club.

Best has never been a truly prolific forward

Previous to his time with Blackburn, the burly centre-forward had established himself as a sporadic, if not consistent goalscorer and a handful for defenders who could struggle to contain his physical style.

Two seasons in the top flight with Newcastle United yielded ten goals, while he managed 23 in three years in all competitions for Coventry City.

However, he has spent time out on loan in both of the last two seasons. An initial spell with Sheffield Wednesday looked promising as he netted five times in 14 outings, but last season saw a barren run of 20 games as he spent a goalless year with Derby.

His international career is a similar story having made seven appearances for the Republic of Ireland, but the Nottingham-born man has failed to find the net at international level.

Best is far from the first player to have left Ewood Park this summer with Tom CairneyJoshua King and Josh Morris all having confirmed their exits from the club in recent weeks.

However, midfield duo Chris Taylor and Darragh Lenihan have each signed new one-year contract extensions with the club this month. 

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About the author
Sam France
Former Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor at VAVEL UK, part of the VAVEL team 2014-2018.