Sussex has secured its first player signing, Joey Evison, on a multi-year deal beginning in 2027. This move is notable as it required approval from Rob Andrew, the ECB's county cricket managing director, due to financial restrictions placed on Sussex after recording an operating loss of £1.33 million last year. These sanctions mandate ECB approval for new player signings at Hove until the end of the 2028 season.
Evison, a 24-year-old all-rounder, joins from Kent, where his opportunities in his preferred batting role had become limited. He previously went on loan to Leicestershire, scoring 55 in an innings win against Yorkshire and taking three wickets across two appearances. Evison was recognized as a promising prospect when Kent signed him from Nottinghamshire four years ago. He has amassed 14 half-centuries in 45 first-class appearances with an average of 31.65, and also has 68 wickets at an average of 43, including two hundreds in the Metro Bank Cup, where he earned man of the match in the 2022 final.
This transfer reunites Evison with former Kent coach Matt Walker, who will take over as head coach at Sussex next season. With other all-rounders like Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Danny Lamb departing, Evison is expected to have more opportunities. Sussex is also reportedly in talks to sign Middlesex seamer Blake Cullen.
In other transfer news, Tom Alsop, 30, will move from Sussex to Gloucestershire on a three-year deal starting next year, having had 12 months remaining on his contract. This move follows Ben Charlesworth's decision to swap Bristol for Lancashire. Alsop's move comes after limited opportunities at Sussex this summer due to the form of Tom Clark. Fast bowling prospect Henry Crocombe has also left Sussex to join Surrey, a signing that drew interest from Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. His move to Surrey also facilitated James Taylor's agreement to leave Surrey for Yorkshire, impacting Worcestershire's plans.
Matthew Potts, an England fast bowler, has committed his future to Durham beyond September, despite interest from Yorkshire. Potts, 27, is aiming to regain his place in the national team after a challenging Ashes series. Liam Patterson-White is also staying with Nottinghamshire, signing a three-year contract after considering an offer from Warwickshire. Patterson-White is currently the most prolific spin bowler in the Championship this summer with 32 wickets.
Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire are reportedly competing to sign wicketkeeper Ben Cox, 34, who is leaving Leicestershire. Cox has scored 530 runs for Leicestershire in 2026.
Leicestershire has signed former England Under-19 captain Hamza Shaikh on a three-year contract from 2027. Spinner Liam Trevaskis' future at Leicestershire remains uncertain.
Hampshire batsman Joe Weatherley, the leading run-scorer in this year's T20 Blast, is in negotiations for a new deal. Ali Orr is expected to leave Hampshire for Middlesex. Hampshire's T20 captain James Vince is also finalizing a new deal, a process complicated by his tax residency in the United Arab Emirates, which limits his days working in the UK.
In anticipation of the Championship's return, Yorkshire has secured Indian left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for three fixtures in September, following his participation in the Metro Bank Cup. Gloucestershire has signed Indian spinner Ravi Sai Kishore for the final six rounds of the season. Gloucestershire's director of cricket, Jon Lewis, stated Sai Kishore's arrival indicates the club's determination to avoid finishing at the bottom of the Division Two table.
Australian left-arm bowler Ray Toole is also of interest to several counties for 2027, with a potential shorter-term deal for the current August and September period also being considered.