Durham have announced that Scott Borthwick will return to the club on a long-term deal next season after four years at Surrey.
Borthwick, who left Durham as a legspinning allrounder but has largely been used as a specialist top-order batsman at The Oval, was among a number of players to leave Chester-le-Street following the club's demotion as part of an ECB bail-out at the end of the 2016 season.
Borthwick had one year left to run on his Surrey contract, but has been released early from his deal. His time at the club brought mixed returns: he was a County Championship regular throughout, and part of the title-winning side in 2018, but struggled to post the sort of numbers that had put him on England's Test radar. Appearances in white-ball cricket were sporadic, despite him taking 18 Blast wickets in his final season at Durham.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Surrey, and I'd like to say a big thank you to all of the players, staff and members who supported me during my time there," Borthwick said. "Durham is really close to my heart, it is a club which I have come through the ranks from Under-9s right through to the academy, so to get the opportunity and chance to represent Durham again was something which really excited me, and I can't wait.
"Some of my proudest moments as a cricketer are winning games for Durham and I am desperate to do that again. I know I am 30 now but I still feel young at heart, but I am fit and still feel like my cricket has lots to offer and have some of the best years ahead of me, with both bat and ball. So now is a really good time to come back."
Marcus North, Durham's director of cricket, said that the signing of Borthwick "shows our intent to take this club forward".
"Scott brings with him a wealth of experience across all three formats and provides us with options at the top of the batting order and as a spinner, which are both areas we need to strengthen," North said.
"Having previously played for the club he knows what it means to be a Durham player and will fit straight into the dressing room. It is great to see another one of our homegrown players return as we continue to build towards a big summer for the club in 2021."