Moeen Ali: Ex-England all-rounder joins Yorkshire for 2026 Vitality Blast after reversing retirement from county cricket

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has joined Yorkshire for the 2026 Vitality Blast after reversing his decision to retire from county cricket.

Moeen, 38, appeared to have played his final domestic match in England when he turned out for Warwickshire against Leicestershire in the 2025 Blast last July.

But the left-handed batter and off-spin bowler has now signed a deal with Yorkshire, who have never won the Blast and only reached Finals Day three times in 23 seasons since the tournament's inception.

The deal, which includes an option for 2027, means Moeen could play alongside great friend and fellow spinner Adil Rashid.

Yorkshire will become the third county of Moeen's career after Warwickshire and Worcestershire, the latter of whom he captained to the Blast title in 2018.

Mooen hoping to keep 'building bridges'

In 2021, Moeen spoke out in support of Azeem Rafiq who experienced racism while playing for Yorkshire.

Moeen is hoping his move can help the team continue to "build bridges" with communities.

"I know Yorkshire was mainly highlighted for a lot of the stuff but I think there were incidents all over the counties as well where people spoke out after Azeem had spoken out," Moeen said.

"In my opinion, the great thing was that everybody then had a voice to speak up and they did.

"I think county cricket, English cricket, had a wake-up call and I think Yorkshire is one of the counties that has done a lot since then.

"If you look at what they have done in youth cricket and recreational cricket outside the club itself they have done an amazing job and hopefully that will continue."

Moeen 'hungry for fresh challenge'

Moeen also said: "I'm delighted to be joining Yorkshire. It's a huge club with a proud history, but what really appeals to me is where the team is heading. There's a lot of talent in the squad and the chance to help push the group forward is exciting for me.

"I've always loved playing at Headingley - the wicket, the atmosphere and the supporters make it a special place. This feels like a fresh challenge and I'm arriving hungry for it. I want to bring my experience, enjoy my cricket and help Yorkshire compete."

Moeen retired from international cricket in 2024, ending an England career that spanned 10 years, 68 Test matches, 138 one-day internationals and 92 T20 internationals.

He was part of the England squads that won the 2015 Ashes, 2019 50-over World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup. Across the formats for his country, he scored 6,678 runs and took 366 wickets.

Moeen has recently played in the Bangladesh Premier League and Abu Dhabi T20 and is set for a stint in the Pakistan Super League this spring after opting out of the Indian Premier League auction following his release from Kolkata Knight Riders.

He skipped the 2025 edition of The Hundred after playing for Birmingham Phoenix in the first four seasons of the 100-ball competition.

Yorkshire: Moeen's leadership will be invaluable

Yorkshire's general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton said: "Moeen is a world-class all-rounder whose influence extends well beyond his on-field ability.

"His experience and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our T20 side and build a team capable of challenging consistently in the Blast.

"He will bring presence to the dressing room, and his arrival will be positive for the wider club and for cricket in Yorkshire. His decision to join reflects the direction of travel at the club and the environment we are building.

"We're excited about what Moeen will bring, not just in performances, but in setting standards and helping drive the group forward."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Moeen Ali: Ex-England all-rounder joins Yorkshire for 2026 Vitality Blast after reversing retirement from county cricket