John Simpson, the well-regarded wicketkeeper-batter from Sussex, is set to join Nottinghamshire at the conclusion of his contract. This move was largely anticipated, primarily due to financial constraints faced by Sussex.
Simpson has signed a two-year contract with Nottinghamshire, where he will participate in the County Championship and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. His tenure at Sussex has been impressive since his arrival from Middlesex in 2024. He led the team as captain to clinch the Division Two title, amassing 1,197 runs at an outstanding average of 74.81.
In the season following promotion, Simpson guided Sussex to a respectable fourth-place finish in Division One. Though he relinquished the captaincy to Ollie Robinson this year, he remained a pivotal figure on the team, concluding his stint at Sussex with 2,864 red-ball runs at an average of 53.03, including 11 centuries. Well-noted is his contribution to reaching the T20 Blast semi-finals in 2024.
Sussex ended this recent season third in Division One, finishing just a position ahead of Nottinghamshire, last year’s champions. Nevertheless, financial constraints have led to several departures, including Henry Crocombe, Tom Alsop, and Fynn Hudson-Prentice.
Simpson expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming chapter, stating, “I’m really excited to sign for Nottinghamshire and experience a new challenge in my career up at Trent Bridge.” He praised the team, saying, “They’re a great team with some really good players… I can’t wait to join up with them and keep challenging for honours.” He also expressed admiration for Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire’s head coach, appreciating Moores’ success-driven teams.
Simpson’s arrival means that Kyle Verreynne, South Africa’s Test wicketkeeper and part of Trent Bridge over the last three seasons, will not return. Verreynne played a significant role for the team, notably hitting the decisive six to secure the Championship title in 2025.
Nottinghamshire’s head coach Peter Moores commented: “John’s a quality wicketkeeper and batter, with a proven track record over the last few years.” He acknowledged their appreciation for Verreynne, “It’s a double-edged sword because we’ve loved having Kyle… The big difference by having John… is the flexibility that it will give us with our second overseas spot moving forward.” Moores highlighted Simpson’s achievements and expressed optimism for the upcoming season.
