ENGLAND cricket legend Jimmy Anderson has joined Surrey at the age of 44 after his bitter departure from Lancashire ended a 25-year association with the club.
has signed a one-year contract with Surrey for the 2027 County Championship season, meaning beyond his 45th birthday next July.
had been thrown into doubt after Lancashire controversially decided against renewing his contract last month, despite the veteran taking 50 wickets in just 11 Championship matches this year.
But has now secured a move to the Kia Oval, where he will return to Division One cricket with a Surrey side who won three consecutive County Championship titles between 2022 and 2024.
Anderson said: “It’s an honour to join a club like Surrey and I can’t wait to start a new chapter in my career.
“Surrey have a great squad and are a team that expects to be fighting for Championship titles and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
He added: “I still feel like I have a lot to offer, taking wickets, trying to help the team win games of cricket.
“I also think that I can bring a lot to the team off the field and help those young players who are looking to develop their skillset and go on and represent their country.”
The move comes less than three weeks after Anderson revealed his heartbreak at being axed by boyhood club Lancashire, whom he had represented since 2001.
The decision was particularly surprising after he captained the Red Rose this season and finished with 50 Championship wickets at an average of just 17.68.
Anderson admitted at the time: “I’ve supported Lancashire since I was a kid, and so to get to play for them for 25 years was a dream come true.”
But he added pointedly: “If it was up to me it wouldn’t have ended like this, but I wish the players and fans all the best for the future.”
Anderson retired from international cricket in July 2024 after an extraordinary 21-year Test career, taking 704 wickets in 188 matches to become England’s all-time leading wicket-taker and the most prolific fast bowler in Test history.
His move to Surrey means one of English cricket’s greatest careers will continue for at least another season.
