All-rounder Matt Coles has left Kent to join county champions Essex on a two-year deal.

The Maidstone-born 27-year-old made his Kent debut in 2009 after coming through the county's age group squads and Academy.

He joined Hampshire on loan in August 2013 after refusing a new deal with his home county and then signed a three-year deal only for an unsettled spell to be cut short by mutual agreement.

He returned to Kent in 2015 and in total made 212 appearances in all formats, taking 439 wickets. He claimed 32 championship wickets last season at an average of 41.03 and scored 304 runs (21.71) with one half-century.

Coles said: "It's with a heavy heart that I leave Kent. It's been my home and family for most of my life.

"It's time for a fresh challenge and I'd like to thank everyone at Kent and wish everyone the very best moving forward in 2018 and beyond."

Kent Cricket head coach Matt Walker said: “I’ve known Matt since he came into our age-group system.

“He’s a talented cricketer and we wish him well. We are already identifying players to reinforce the squad and add to the talent in the group.”