Warwickshire win race to sign Middlesex seamer Ethan Bamber

The seamer, who was in the last year of his Middlesex contract, was in demand and had several counties seeking his signature; he has taken 183 first-class wickets for his home county

Middlesex seamer Ethan Bamber is to join Warwickshire at the end of the season.

Bamber, 25, has taken 214 wickets since making his debut for the Lord's county, having first represented England at under-19 level.

The seamer, who was in the last year of his Middlesex contract, was in demand and had several counties seeking his signature. He has become recognised as one of the domestic circuit's most consistent red-ball bowlers.

In first-class cricket for Middlesex, he has claimed 183 wickets at an average of 27.54, alongside 31 wickets across both white-ball formats.

"This club has nurtured me, believed in me and allowed me the opportunity to grow and develop as a cricketer, but also as a person," said Bamber. "I have been able to be myself here, surrounded by some really wonderful people. It is these people in particular I will miss when I move on.

"I feel that this is the right time for a new challenge and new environment. I want to squeeze the most out of myself and my cricket, and I believe the opportunity I have at Warwickshire will help me do that.

"Most importantly, for now, I will give everything I can to Middlesex for the rest of the season, to get us promoted and to contribute to a group and a club that I care very much about."

Gavin Larsen, Warwickshire's performance director, added: "Ethan was highly courted around the game, and we're thrilled he's chosen to call Edgbaston home for the future."

^{Bamber is joining Warwickshire for 2025 (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

Bamber was offered a new contract, but his departure for Warwickshire comes amid complex times for Middlesex, who are challenging for an immediate return to Division One of the County Championship but have struggled in the T20 Blast.

"We are naturally disappointed that Ethan has decided to leave Middlesex at the end of the season," added Alan Coleman, the county's director of cricket.

"Ethan is an ambitious young man, who wants to challenge himself in a new environment and has a passion to play for England. He feels the time is right to take on that new challenge at Edgbaston and we wish him all the very best of luck in the future.

"Whilst it is always disappointing when a player decides to leave the club, you have to accept that opportunities will present themselves to players to move on and take on new challenges – that is the nature of professional sport. This does of course give an opportunity for our other bowlers in the squad to step-up."

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