Brooks signs with Yorkshire

Yorkshire have won the race to sign Jack Brooks from Northamptonshire on a three-year contract.

Brooks, 28, who did not make his first-class debut until 2009, has emerged as one of the most accomplished seamers in the county game over the last couple of seasons and has been courted by several clubs for more than a year. Yorkshire, who won promotion back to Division One of the Championship by finishing second in Division Two in 2012, had made no secret of their desire to sign extra bowlers and had also spoken to James Harris before he signed for Middlesex.

While Brooks is leaving Northamptonshire with a view to furthering his ambition to play international cricket, it may well prove that he is a perfect county signing: a man pushing for England recognition but who may fall just short of the international side. He claimed 43 Championship wickets at an average of 21.90 in 2011 and 23 at 35.69 in 2012. His first-class career bowling average is 28.95 though his List A record - he has claimed only 19 List A wickets at an average of 40 - underlines his inexperience.

Brooks was not out of contract at Northamptonshire, but had a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave if he requested it.

Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of cricket, said: "We are really pleased to have acquired Jack's services. We've been looking to strengthen our squad to challenge in the First Division County Championship in 2013 and believe that Jack brings a great deal of quality to our existing seam attack."

Brooks said: "I'm absolutely elated to be joining Yorkshire who are one of the biggest clubs in the country. They've shown a lot of interest in me over the last couple of years and it was ultimately too difficult to turn down. I want to be part of a successful young side that has been built at Headingley. Yorkshire enjoyed great success in 2012 and will certainly be challenging again next summer.

"I want to improve as a cricketer and believe that Yorkshire can help me do that. I've been at Northamptonshire for four enjoyable seasons and they have been excellent with me. I joined them from the amateur game, have left behind some very good friends there and wish them all the best in the future. This move has been a cricket decision. I want to further my England aspirations and am really looking forward to the challenges ahead."