Keith Dudgeon joins Sussex on two-year deal

South African seamer signs after previous county experience with Kent

Sussex have announced the signing of South African seamer Keith Dudgeon as one of their overseas players for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Dudgeon took 42 wickets for Kent in their promotion-winning campaign this summer, having impressed in his one appearance in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury. Overall, he picked up 50 wickets at 28.34 while in Canterbury.

"We are delighted Keith has committed the next two years to joining us at Hove," Sussex's director of cricket, Paul Farbrace, said. "He is just the quality of player and person we have been looking for to help us to continue to grow and compete in Division One of the County Championship, and aim for the knockout stages of the Blast.RelatedJohn Simpson departs Sussex for Nottinghamshire

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"Keith's high level of skill, experience and winning nature is exactly what this team needs right now. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Keith and his family to Hove and helping to continue to drive the club forward."

Sussex have been operating on reduced budgets after the imposition of ECB special measures earlier this year. Farbrace has moved to a part-time role as director of cricket, with Matt Walker appointed as new head coach, while a number of players have departed, including club captain, John Simpson, England prospect Henry Crocombe, experienced allrounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice and top-order batter Tom Alsop.

The club also announced on Thursday that Australian opener Daniel Hughes, who has played at Hove for the past three seasons, would not be returning.

Dudgeon's arrival on a two-year deal will help offset some of those losses as Sussex aim to follow up a third-place finish in Division One, as will the signing of Kent allrounder Joey Evison.

Dudgeon said: "Really pleased to share that I'll be joining Sussex for the next couple of seasons. Long-term county cricket has been the goal for a while now and I am grateful for the backing in that given to me by Sussex.

"From everything I've been told, there's a great group of lads in the dressing room, and I'm looking forward to joining them, bringing good energy and contributing to the team in whatever way I can. I'd like to thank Paul Farbrace and Matt Walker, as well as the captains, for making this happen.

"A huge thank you to everyone at Kent for the past two seasons. I'm incredibly grateful for the memories, the people and the experiences I've had along the way. Kent will always hold a special place for me. It's a great club with great people and I have no doubt it will, too, go from strength to strength.

"Now it's time for a new challenge, and I'm really looking forward to what's ahead at Sussex."

Four other players have been released by Sussex at the end of their contracts: white-ball specialists Brad Currie and Harrison Ward, ACE academy graduate Troy Henry, and rookie fast bowler Nantes Oosthuizen.