LIAM Plunkett will leave Yorkshire at the end of this season after signing a three-year deal with Surrey.

The Middlesbrough-born 33-year-old, who is in the last year of his contract with the White Rose, will link up with the London-based club in October after the conclusion of the 2018 campaign.

Plunkett, a four-time Specsavers County Championship winner; twice with Durham in 2008 and 2009, and twice with Yorkshire in 2014 and 2015, has represented his country of 95 occasions across all three formats, taking a combined 177 wickets and also contributing 850 runs.

In his 102 appearances for the White Rose to date, he has amassed 98 First-Class wickets (171 across all formats) with a career best of 6-33 being recorded against Leeds/Bradford MCCU on debut at Emerald Headingley in 2013. Plunkett has also contributed 1,933 runs with the bat since joining the club from Durham in 2012.

Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon said: “We are trying to assemble a squad that has availability and is within our budget to compete in all three domestic competitions. With that in mind we are not in a position to be able to offer Liam a new contract.

“He has played a big part in our recent success and we obviously thank him for that and wish him well for the future.”

In 2017, the dynamic fast bowler claimed 36 one-day international wickets in the calendar year, the joint second best haul in the world behind only Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan (45).

2017 saw him play only 10 times across all three forms for Yorkshire, with injury ruling him out for large parts as well as the regular international commitments.

“It's disappointing that it has come to an end but it is incredibly exciting that I’ve got a chance to go to another really big club and hopefully win some more silverware with them,” he said.

“It’s bittersweet but a new chapter.

“Obviously Yorkshire took a chance on me after Durham and I appreciate everything they’ve done for me.

"I feel as though I’ve played some of my best cricket at Yorkshire, including getting myself back in to the England team.

"It has been amazing to meet some good friends - some best friends.

"I think some of the cricket we played, when we won some stuff, was some of the best I’ve been part of as a team unit.

“There comes a time in people’s careers where you don’t get offered a contract.

"Obviously, Yorkshire want to go in a different direction. I feel like I’ve met some really good people, made some fond memories and won some good trophies for an incredibly passionate club.”