Leicestershire Sign Stephen Eskinazi From Middlesex On Three-Year Deal

Leicestershire CCC is excited to announce the signing of opening batter Stephen Eskinazi from Middlesex on a three-year contract.

The 31-year-old will initially join the Foxes on loan for the final three rounds of the Rothesay County Championship in September, before becoming a permanent member of the squad on 1 November.

A prolific run-scorer, Eskinazi has amassed 9,612 runs across formats in his career to date, making 16 centuries during his time with Middlesex.

They include more than 4,500 runs at an average of 31.19 in first-class cricket, headlined by a knock of 179 against Warwickshire during the 2017 season “ one of nine Championship hundreds.

Eskinazi boasts an outstanding record in List A cricket, having scored 1,434 runs at a mighty 55.15. He holds Middlesex’s record for the county’s highest individual score in the format, his career-best 182, made during a 2022 campaign in which he ended the One Day Cup as the leading run-scorer with 658 runs at 94, featuring four centuries in eight innings.

The Johannesburg-born batter has also proven his prowess in the T20 arena, recording 3,593 runs “ including a best of 102* - at 31.51 a time, while striking at a shade under 140. His record in the short form has earned him franchise deals with the likes of Welsh Fire, Dhaka Capitals and Perth Scorchers, where he won the 2022/23 Big Bash title.

Eskinazi will also bring extensive leadership experience to Leicestershire, having captained Middlesex on 69 occasions across all three formats in his tenure at Lord’s.

Discussing his move to Uptonsteel County Ground, Eskinazi said: “Having closely watched the way the Club has operated in recent years, I’m unbelievably excited to be a part of the next chapter of Leicestershire’s journey.

“I have an extremely strong relationship with many members of the dressing room already, and after speaking with Claude [Henderson], Fons [Alfonso Thomas] and Titch [James Taylor], I knew this was an opportunity to join something special on and off the field.

“I’m confident my experiences as a player and a leader both at Middlesex and within franchise cricket will hold me in good stead to take on this new challenge and enjoy every bit of what promises to be a compelling 2026 season and beyond.”

Eskinazi becomes Leicestershire’s third recruit ahead of next summer, following Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Tattersall and Somerset all-rounder Josh Davey in putting pen-to-paper with the Foxes.