Allrounder Tom Curran has signed a two-year deal with Melbourne Stars in the BBL, committing to play the full duration of the tournament, while Chris Jordan will return to Hobart Hurricanes.
Curran has previously played four seasons for Sydney Sixers but was caught up in controversy in the 2023-24 campaign when he was suspended for four matches for intimidating an umpire and his tournament was later ended by a knee injury. In 36 BBL matches he has taken 51 wickets at 19.76 with an economy of 8.25 and scored 359 runs at a strike-rate of 143.60.
Curran joins under the BBL's new multi-year contract option which allows clubs to sign one overseas player before the draft. Any player joining under the new agreement has to stay for the entire tournament - including finals - from the 2025-26 season although Curran will do so for both years of his deal.
Jordan, who took a hat-trick against USA to help secure England's spot in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, heads back to Hurricanes after claiming nine wickets in 10 matches during 2023-24 season plus hitting a 17-ball fifty.
"CJ was our top priority to bring back as part of our multi-year overseas contract, he provided our squad with experience, both with bat, ball, and in the field, and showed our squad what professionalism in World T20 cricket looks like," Salliann Beams, Hurricanes list manager and high performance general manger
"He also provided a good balance to our bowling unit, and when paired with Nathan Ellis, we have two of the best death and powerplay bowlers in T20 cricket. We also saw what CJ can do at his destructive best with the bat and know that he can play a role for us in the lower order when required, I am excited to see what he can do for our franchise over the coming seasons."
Sam Billings was the first player to sign a multi-year deal in the BBL when he joined Sydney Thunder.
Meanwhile, in an interview conducted by Stars, Curran said that Glenn Maxwell had played a key role in encouraging him to join the club when the pair spent time together for Royal Challenges Bengaluru in the IPL.
"I'm really looking to getting out to Australia in a few months and playing at the MCG which will be a great honour to call my home ground," he said. "You want to come in as an overseas player and have an impact and help win games, it'll be a joy not having to bowl to Maxwell and Stoinis."
"I was at the IPL with Maxi at the time and I knew Peter Moores was the coach - who I've never worked with but who I've heard great things about," he said. "I had a decent idea of which players were part of team having played a fair bit against the Stars over the years. After the initial chat it didn't take too long for me to decide to be honest."
Stars will need a new captain for next season after Maxwell stood down following last year's campaign which saw Stars finish sixth. Marcus Stoinis has confirmed his interest in the role.
Stars have the first pick in the overseas draft which will take place early in September.