YORKSHIRE are believed to have signed England off-spinner Dom Bess after his decision to leave Somerset.

Reports suggest a deal has been agreed for the 23-year-old to return to Emerald Headingley following last season’s loan spell there.

Bess played four County Championship and six Vitality Blast games for Yorkshire during a mid-summer spell, taking 11 wickets and scoring 164 runs.

Now, he has opted to leave Taunton having turned down a new contract, something which the county confirmed yesterday.

The deal to bring him to Yorkshire is understood to be for the next four years, and it is likely to be confirmed next week.

Bess has just played in each of England’s six summer Test Matches against the West Indies and Pakistan, ahead of Somerset team-mate and fellow spinner Jack Leach.

But left-armer Leach has often been selected ahead of Bess for Somerset, a reason behind this decision to seek pastures new.

He said: “This is not a decision I’ve taken lightly.

“I’ve been with Somerset since joining the Academy, I’ve grown up here, and some of my best friends are in the team with me.

“It’s been a really hard decision.

“There were good discussions with the club, and they offered a contract extension. However, I think it’s the right decision in terms of needing first-team opportunities.

“Given the direction that I want to go with my cricket, I think it’s time to move on.

“I want to thank the Somerset fans for everything they’ve done in terms of supporting me and the whole team when we’re out on the pitch. That’s always meant a lot to me.

“Somerset is a special place, and hopefully I can help to play a part in the team being even more successful before I leave.”

Bess has courted interest from elsewhere, but Yorkshire look certain to have won the race for his signature.