RYAN SIDEBOTTOM is on his way back to Yorkshire after agreeing a three-year deal at Headingley.

The 32-year-old former England left-arm swing bowler announced his intentions to the audience at a Retford Cricket Club function in Nottinghamshire earlier this week.

Sidebottom, right, has been in negotiations with the White Rose county about a return to the club he left in 2003, and it is expected the i’s will be dotted and the t’s crossed when the two parties meet early next week.

“He was at a benefit function and made some kind of statement there,” said Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of professional cricket.

“But nothing’s been finalised or signed as of yet because there’s just a few things to sort out.”

The deal is a major coup for Yorkshire, who have fended off competition from Durham, Lancashire, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire among others for the player’s signature.

Sidebottom’s recent international retirement means he will be available to Moxon and captain Andrew Gale for a full summer.

He left the reigning county champions Nottinghamshire because they would only offer him a two-year contract with the option of a third.