Blackburn are plotting exactly where to deploy new signing Pascal Chimbonda after the 30-year-old French defender's arrival from Tottenham.

Rovers confirmed Chimbonda had signed a two-year contract last night - one of several deals to go through on a day of swift business as the end of the transfer window beckons.

Sam Allardyce bought Chimbonda as a replacement for left-back Stephen Warnock, who moved to Aston Villa for a fee believed to be around £7million.

Other transfer moves included Stoke's acquisition of defender Robert Huth from Middlesbrough, Everton's agreement to sign Sylvain Distin from Portsmouth - pending a medical last night - and Fulham's confirmation of midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi's arrival on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Golden Arrows.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce also gave midfielders Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter permission to talk to Ipswich.

Allardyce had lined up former Wigan and Sunderland defender Chimbonda when Villa first approached Rovers about Warnock but wanted the transfers to occur simultaneously.

He said: "We've got the deal done. We've got an experienced player who is desperate to play football again, having missed it at Spurs."

The only question that remains is Chimbonda's most likely position for Rovers.

"We all know his favourite position is right-back. We are well covered there, but he can play centre-back and left-back," Allardyce reasoned.

The Frenchman is unlikely to play in his preferred position because Allardyce has already signed Lars Jacobsen and Michel Salgado this summer.

However, the Rovers boss is confident Chimbonda's experience and desire to play regularly will allow him to adapt quickly.

"He was eager to get away from Tottenham, because he has not played enough games for them and he just wants to play football," added Allardyce.

"When you meet someone who tells you they just want to play football it is a good thing from the start.

"When you see what he has achieved in his Wigan and Tottenham early days we want him to come and emulate that at Blackburn, whichever position we pick him in."

Everton's signing of Distin is expected to be the first of several at Goodison Park in the coming days, with manager David Moyes armed with funds after selling Joleon Lescott to Manchester City for £22million.

Distin, 31, has agreed a three-year contract.

Everton chief executive Robert Elstone told www.evertonfc.com: "After Sylvain made it clear his preferred destination was Goodison, the chairman [Bill Kenwright] moved quickly to finalise the deal - and Sylvain is now on his way to Merseyside to undergo a medical."

Huth, 25, yesterday finalised personal terms with Stoke after undergoing a medical - and he may be followed to the Britannia Stadium by Boro striker Tuncay Sanli.

The Turkish forward was in talks with the Potteries club's hierarchy last night, with Stoke expected to pay around £11million for the pair.