Five blockbuster Premier League transfers for 2025

We’ve covered winter transfers quite a bit on the website given the interest in player moves – so, this is a last wrap on a few names that caught my eye, as we head into the UK outdoor season.

🏏 Matthew Weston (Woodlands)

Unusually for Woodlands of the Bradford Premier League, they have changed their squad quite a bit for 2025. Arguably the top side in Yorkshire in the past five years (with notable mention to Richmondshire), has had quite a reboot.

Liam and Kieran Collins have moved to Townville while allrounder Tom Clee has signed with Pudsey St Lawrence. In the other direction, Henry Pearson joins as a key spin threat after 41 wickets last season for Ossett.

It will be intriguing to see how left-handed opening bat Matty Weston slots in after a stellar season for Barkisland of the Huddersfield Cricket League where he lifted the Tom Oldham Trophy as the Premiership’s top batter (907 runs, average 60).

Weston has big shoes to fill at Albert Terrace as he replaces stalwart Tim Jackson who retired after 996 runs in 2024.

Weston is expected to open the batting with Mosun Hussain, signed from challengers Jer Lane, to ensure Woodlands set the tone at the top.

Everyone expects Woodlands to be strong challengers again and their headline signing is really the return of Brad Schmulian as overseas player and captain.

🏏 Courtney Gounden (Sessay Emeralds)

Sessay Cricket Club have signed Courtney Gounden as their female overseas professional for 2025.

Gounden arrives in April from Durban where she plays provincial cricket for Holywoodbets Dolphins Ladies and club cricket at Chatsworth Sporting Club.

The 23-year-old-old all-rounder is an off-spinner who can keep wicket and offer useful runs for the Emeralds as they seek to defend their title.

One of the few clubs in the Premier League to sign an overseas, it has been a success for Sessay with Olivia Gain from New Zealand enjoying an incredible last season, scoring 1,198 runs for the club.

It’s been a busy winter for Sessay as they finished second in the Yorkshire Women & Girls Indoor Cricket League’s softball finals. A remarkable 136 teams have been battling it out across divisions and congratulations to Worsborough Bridge who came out on top by 14 runs.

🏏 Tom Fraine (Clifton Alliance)

Part of Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Academy for 2025, batter Tom Fraine swaps York for a short walk across Clifton Park to the The Vincent & Partners Alliance Cricket Ground.

Tom captains Repton School and will be available for Yorkshire Premier League North duty after summer term. Other recruits include legspinner Mark Bell who returns to the game after a break.

YPLN fans will remember Mark from his days at York. I even dug out a scorecard where he dismissed Adil Rashid who was opening the batting for Yorkshire Academy in the 2005 season of what was then the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League!

🏏 James Wolfenden (Honley)

Wakefield Thornes’ middle-order batter James Wolfenden has swapped Premier Leagues, from YCSPL with Wakefield Thornes to Honley in the Huddersfield Cricket League.

Honley hosted the 2024 Heavy Woollen Cup final where Wolfenden scored 52 not out as Thornes defeated New Farnley.

🏏 Kate Duffield (Doncaster Town Women)

Kate Duffield, from Auckland University Cricket Club, will play at Doncaster Town Cricket Club for 2025.

The Kiwi teen was part of the Auckland team who won the Kookaburra U17 Girls National tournament in 2024 and she replaces Laura Scheiwe at Doncaster Town.

All-rounder Duffield is a right-handed top-four batter and off-spin bowler, who has been at Auckland University Cricket Club this season. She’s expected to play in the Premier League of the Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League and likely open-age teams too, as Scheiwe did before her.

Want to read more?

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