Nigel Pearson gets his man as striker Paul Gallagher joins Leicester City

City manager Nigel Pearson's persistence has finally paid off as he has snapped up striker Paul Gallagher from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old striker has signed a three-year contract after Rovers finally accepted an offer from City for the Scotland international, who was unveiled at the Walkers Stadium yesterday.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce had rejected earlier bids from City and several other clubs, including Watford, for Gallagher and was believed to be holding out for a fee close to £1 million.

However, Pearson has landed the versatile forward and Gallagher should make his debut today at the Walkers Stadium against Barnsley.

"He is somebody we have been monitoring for a while and an opportunity came up to move for him," said Pearson.

"He is a very good player and he will give us something different in terms of our forward play.

"I am delighted to have secured his signature. It is a move in the right direction, improves the squad and he is the right age as well.

"We don't like to shout from the rooftops about what we are doing but I think it has been done in the right way."

Gallagher had spent 14 years at his home-town club but struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular and was sent out for loan spells at Stoke City, Preston and Plymouth last season.

Pearson said it is the right time for Gallagher to make a move and push on in his career.

"He is a quality player and is at the stage of his career when he is ready for a fresh challenge," Pearson said.

"I spoke to Sam about him and it would be fair to say that, in some ways, he would have liked to have kept him in the squad, but there is recognition that at his age he wants more first-team football."

With strikers Steve Howard and Martyn Waghorn suffering from hamstring injuries that could keep them sidelined for several weeks, Gallagher's arrival has been timely, but Pearson insists he always wanted to bring the striker to City.

"I am delighted to have him and it comes at the right time for us as well," said Pearson.

"It is timely for us with the injuries, but he is the right person for us as well. It is not as though we have gone out and got someone for the sake of it because we have injuries. He is somebody we have wanted for a while now.

"He is very creative and a good finisher, and he will fit into the ethic we have here.

"He will work hard and is someone who will add to the squad. He has Premiership qualities."

With Gallagher arriving, Pearson has allowed 19-year-old striker Ashley Chambers to join Peter Taylor's Wycombe Wanderers on a loan deal until January 2.