Lancashire has informed James Anderson that the club will not offer him a new playing contract for the 2027 season. Paul Farbrace, the director of cricket, stated, "As part of those plans, I informed Jimmy that we had taken the incredibly difficult decision not to extend his playing contract for the 2027 season."
The decision follows a conversation between Farbrace and Anderson regarding ambitions to rebuild the men's squad to secure promotion from Division Two and challenge for Division One over the next three to four years. Lancashire finished at the bottom of Division Two of the County Championship last season.
Richard Kenyon was recently appointed as the new chief executive of the club. Anderson, who is 44 years old, began his professional career with Lancashire in 2001 and first played List A cricket at age 17 in 2000.
The bowler joined the England team by the end of 2002 and concluded his international career in 2024. During his 25-year tenure with the club, Anderson took 443 first-class wickets, 83 List A wickets, and 50 T20 wickets.
He also claimed he felt capable of playing for three more years in 2025, despite the club's decision. Anderson was named the club's Championship player of the year and served as captain for the County Championship in 2026.
The bowler has taken 911 international wickets and 50 wickets in Division Two. Other counties are interested in signing Anderson, with clubs in both divisions of the County Championship keen to speak with him.
Anderson said, "If it was up to me it wouldn't have ended like this, but I wish the players and fans all the best for the future." He added, "I've supported Lancashire since I was a kid, and so to get to play for them for 25 years was a dream come true."
The player noted, "I have always found it special walking out to play at Old Trafford and have some incredible memories of doing so including the honour of being captain."
