Soccer-Middlesbrough land Blackburn sharp-shooter Rhodes

LONDON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes joined high-flying Middlesbrough from Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day on Monday. The fee was undisclosed by the second tier English clubs but media reports said it was around nine million pounds ($12.99 million). Rhodes has agreed a four-and-a-half year contract, Middlesbrough said on their website (www.mfc.co.uk). The 25-year-old marksman scored 85 goals in 169 appearances for Blackburn, including 11 this season, and netted 87 times in 148 outings for his previous club Huddersfield Town. Middlesbrough are second in the Championship. The top two go up to the Premier League automatically while the next four teams go through to the playoffs that yield one more promotion place. ($1 = 0.6926 pounds) (Writing by Tony Jimenez; Editing by Alan Baldwin)