Nottinghamshire sign John Simpson as Kyle Verreynne departs

Nottinghamshire have signed wicketkeeper-batter John Simpson from Sussex on a two-year contract running through the end of 2028, the club announced on Tuesday. The 38-year-old will play in the County Championship and One-Day Cup, with his arrival confirming that South African wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne will not return to Trent Bridge in 2027.

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Head coach Peter Moores said the change would give Nottinghamshire greater flexibility over their second overseas place. In the club's announcement, he praised Simpson's record with both bat and gloves while also acknowledging Verreynne's contribution. Simpson said he welcomed the opportunity to work with a different coaching team and continue competing for trophies.

The signing follows a season in which Sussex finished third in the County Championship, immediately ahead of Nottinghamshire, according to BBC Sport. Simpson made 581 Championship runs in 2026. That was his first season below 1,000 runs in three years at Hove, after reaching that milestone in each of his first two campaigns with the club.

BBC Sport reported that Simpson captained Sussex to promotion from Division Two after joining in 2024 and also helped the county reach T20 Blast Finals Day that year. Across his three Sussex seasons, he did not miss a Championship match, scored 11 centuries and recorded 144 dismissals behind the stumps, according to the broadcaster's account of his time there.

Verreynne leaves after a three-year association that included Nottinghamshire's 2025 Championship title. His final season was interrupted in September by a Cricket South Africa call-up, BBC Sport reported. Nottinghamshire brought in New Zealand wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay on a short-term deal to finish the campaign, but were unable to retain the title they had won the previous year.

Simpson's experience includes a Championship title with Middlesex in 2016 and three England appearances in the July 2021 one-day series against Pakistan. Nottinghamshire said he took nine catches during that series as England won every match. His career total in first-class and List A cricket exceeds 14,000 runs.