Darren Stevens says he is delighted to have signed a new two-year Kent contract and has targeted a glorious finish to his career in a place he calls home.

The 38-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to Derbyshire once the 2014 season was over, exactly 10 years after his arrival from Leicestershire, however after lengthy negotiations with the Kent hierarchy, the all-rounder has agreed a deal, which is expected to include a benefit year in 2016.

A delighted Stevens – still battling for the national MVP title in the final week of the season – revealed: “I signed a two-year deal. There were a few little complications with fitness clauses and that sort of stuff but I got them out, so I was happy.

“I am really pleased and hopefully it means I will be finishing my career where I am happy.”

He added: “This is my home. People say ‘when you finish are you going to move back home?’ but this is my home. Yes, I have family and close friends in the midlands but we’re settled here and have our first child on the way in December. I’m very happy and I’d like to stay as long as I can.

“I’m pleased to have signed a two-year deal and we’ll wait and see how the body is holding up for the couple of years after that.”

Stevens’ 10th season at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, has been another stellar one, though his 800+ Championship runs have been eclipsed by his career-best 56 wickets at an average of 25, going into the final innings of the Division 2 season.

He admitted: “I’m pleased I’ve stayed on the park really, I’ve played every game and been patient. It’s been my year, I suppose, the boys have held onto their catches and I’ve passed 50 wickets.”

Despite being set to pass 500 overs bowled in the Championship this year, Stevens said he is benefiting from a light workload in his seven-year stint at Leicester.

He said: “I only really started bowling when I came to Kent. The first three or four years I was only bowling 150 overs max. It’s only been the last few years of bringing the youngsters through I’ve bowled a lot more.

“If I’d been bowling from when I was coming through I don’t think I’d be playing now.”

Stevens – who is planning to play T20 around the globe this winter, around the birth of his son – is hopeful of a glorious climax to his career, predicting next year’s Kent team ‘will be even better.’

He added: “There’s loads more to come from this side. The last couple of years we were nowhere really, we lost experienced players and the youngsters have come in and found their way by playing in the first team. A couple of years later and they are really starting to come good. Next year we’ll be even better.”