James Anderson, 44, Signs for Surrey on 2027 Deal
England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson has joined Surrey for the 2027 season after Lancashire did not offer him a new contract. The 44-year-old signed a red-ball deal at The Oval and says he is not looking for a send-off.
England bowler James Anderson, 44, has signed for Surrey for the 2027 season after Lancashire did not offer him a new contract. The deal extends his career beyond his 45th birthday.
Anderson is England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker. He first played professionally for Lancashire 25 years ago and had several clubs interested before agreeing to move to The Oval.
Surrey say the agreement covers 2027, though it is understood Anderson could play on beyond next year.
"Going from thinking I might not play cricket again to having this opportunity - I'm properly buzzing for it," Anderson said on a special episode of his Tailenders podcast. He added: "I'm not doing this for a send-off."
Why he left Lancashire
Anderson was forced into international retirement by England in the summer of 2024. He then returned to play for Lancashire for two seasons and captained them this summer.
He took 50 wickets, but Lancashire finished second bottom of Division Two of the County Championship. New Lancashire director of cricket Paul Farbrace released him as part of a "rebuild" of the squad.
Anderson said emotions ran high after his exit last month. He took a few weeks to decide his next step so that emotion would not drive the choice.
What the Surrey deal covers
The contract is red-ball only, though Anderson said he would play white-ball cricket if required. It carries no official coaching role.
He agreed terms after talks with Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart. Stewart was in the England team when Anderson made his international debut in 2002.
Anderson has not decided whether to move his wife and two daughters from their home in Cheshire.
"I don't feel like I'm done yet," he said. "I feel like I've got more to offer on the field." He called Surrey "such a strong squad, challenging for the Championship" and said it offers a chance to play in Division One again.
A record behind him
Anderson has taken 704 Test wickets in 188 matches. He is third on the all-time list of Test bowlers and has more wickets than any other seamer. He turns 45 in July.
Surrey won the County Championship in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and finished second in 2025. They struggled in 2026 and briefly flirted with relegation.
Anderson strengthens a seam attack that was often hit by injuries this summer. Gus Atkinson and Matthew Fisher are on England's contract list. Henry Crocombe, a winter arrival from Sussex, has just been given a two-year deal with the national team.
"I don't know how much I'm going to play," Anderson said. "It's a strong squad and there are a lot of quality bowlers in that group."
