Josh Blake signs Leicestershire deal after opting to leave Surrey

Wicketkeeper-bat had been involved at The Oval since he was nine but saw limited opportunities

Josh Blake, Surrey's hero in their one-wicket win over Yorkshire last week, will leave his boyhood club at the end of the season to join Leicestershire.

Blake, who turns 28 next week, played for Surrey's age-group teams until he was 15 but did not turn pro for another eight years. He spent his early 20s working as a coach for the Surrey Cricket Foundation and Chance to Shine, and signed his first professional contract for the club aged 23 after scoring consistently for Sutton CC and Surrey's second XI.

His opportunities have largely been limited to the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, for which Surrey typically lose at least a dozen first-team players, but he has been thrust into action in the County Championship over the past month. Against Yorkshire last week, he made a determined 43 not out off 183 balls from No. 4 to seal a tense run chase and ease Surrey's relegation worries.RelatedJosh Blake's maiden century ends Essex's quarter-final hopes

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Surrey said in a statement that Blake had signed a "multi-year deal" with another county, understood to be Leicestershire, in pursuit of more regular first-team cricket. He is one of several wicketkeepers expected to move clubs this winter, with Ben Cox and John Simpson likely to leave Leicestershire and Sussex respectively.

Nottinghamshire are understood to be interested in signing an England-qualified wicketkeeper after relying on two overseas signings - Kyle Verreynne and Mitch Hay - in the role this season, while Glamorgan need to replace the retiring Chris Cooke.

Blake said: "It has been an honour to represent my boyhood club for the last four years and I'm hugely grateful to everyone at Surrey for giving me the opportunity to play professional cricket and prove myself in the county game.

"I never gave up on my dream of making a career out of playing the game and I have made some incredible memories that will stay with me for a long, long time.

"Whilst it is difficult to move on from the county that I first represented as a nine-year-old, I believe that this is the best opportunity for me to continue to progress my career and to develop as a cricketer. I remain totally committed to Surrey until the end of the season but I am excited about my future in the game."

Alec Stewart, Surrey's director of cricket, said: "Josh is a shining example for every cricketer out there that hard work, commitment and dedication can earn you a route into the pro game. He's earnt the chance that he's had here at Surrey but it makes sense for him to take the opportunity to play regular first-team cricket in all formats.

"I want to thank Josh for his time at the club and wish him the very best for the future at his new county."