EMILIO GAY will join Durham for the 2025 season, but Michael Jones is leaving the club at the end of this summer to head to Lancashire.

Gay, a left-handed top order batsman, has agreed a three-year deal that will see him move to Seat Unique Riverside from Northamptonshire.

The 24-year-old has scored more than 2,700 first-class runs for Northamptonshire since his debut in 2019 and is closing in on a tally of 1,000 in white-ball cricket.

He is enjoying a prolific County Championship campaign this term, with 860 runs, the fourth highest on the four-day circuit which included a mammoth career best of 261 against Middlesex.

“I am thrilled to have joined Durham as I embark on the next stage of my career,” said Gay. “I have heard great things about the club both on and off the field and I am very much looking forward to being part of a new environment next season.

“Durham have a huge reputation of their players representing the national team and with my aspirations to play for England, I hope this opportunity will enable me to fulfil my international aspirations.

“The club have been hugely successful for many years, and I know this squad can win trophies. I hope I can play my part in further success for Durham over the next few years.”

While Gay will head to the North-East ahead of the start of the 2025 season, Jones will be leaving for the North-West to join Lancashire as he wants to move closer to his hometown of Ormskirk.

An Academy graduate with Durham, Jones joined the club in 2018 before signing his first professional deal in 2021. His first-class debut came in 2018 against Derbyshire and since then he has gone on to feature for the club in all three formats, playing 89 times.

“I would like to thank Durham for the support and opportunity it has provided me over the last seven years,” said Jones. “Durham is a fantastic club and is full of amazing people which has made the decision to leave very difficult.

“To play my part in seeing the club regain Division One status is something I’m proud of and I am looking forward to watching the club continue to go from strength to strength in the years to come.”