DOM Bess will become the third Somerset bowler to leave the club at the end of the season, it has been confirmed.

Somerset are already losing seamers Jamie Overton (to Surrey) and Nathan Gilchrist (to Kent) ahead of the 2021 campaign, and now Bess is understood to have agreed a contract with Yorkshire after rejecting a new deal to remain at Taunton.

The story broke overnight in the Daily Mail, and this afternoon has brought confirmation from Somerset County Cricket Club that Bess will leave at the end of the current season.

The 23-year-old off-spinner spent much of last season on loan at Headingley, having struggled to get ahead of Jack Leach in the County Championship pecking order or to break into Somerset's white-ball teams.

Bess has played a total of 26 First Class matches for Somerset, taking 79 wickets and scoring 757 runs.

Neither Bess nor Leach have played for Somerset at all in the 2020 season so far, due to their being part of the England squad for Test series against the West Indies and Pakistan.

It's Bess who has been given the nod over Leach by the England selectors as first choice spin bowler, playing in eight Tests this year, while Leach was named as reserve for the West Indies and Pakistan series.

Bess, who hails from Sidmouth, came up through the Devon age groups and then the Somerset Academy, before making his First Class debut in 2016 and taking 6-28 on his Championship debut against Warwickshire later the same year.

His England Test debut came in May 2018 - replacing the injured Leach - and he claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul against South Africa in January of this year, again coming into the side after Leach became unavailable, due to illness.

On his decision to leave Somerset, Bess said: "This is not a decision that I’ve taken lightly.

"I’ve been with Somerset since joining the Academy, I’ve grown up here and some of my best friends are in the team with me. It’s been a really hard decision. 

"There were good discussions with the club and they offered a contract extension, however I think it’s the right decision in terms of needing 1st XI opportunities.

"Given the direction that I want to go with my cricket I think it’s time to move on.

"I want to thank the Somerset fans for everything they’ve done in terms of supporting me and the whole team when we’re out on the pitch. That’s always meant a lot to me.

"Somerset is a special place and hopefully I can help to play a part in the team being even more successful before I leave."

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry commented: "It’s been fantastic to watch Dom’s development unfold at the club, progressing from school cricket at Blundell’s School in Tiverton, through to playing in the international arena.

"Everyone is aware of the significant competition for places that we have within our spin bowling resources that are competing across all formats.

"Understandably, Dom wants to play as much cricket as he possible can and we totally respect his decision to move on to another club where there are more guaranteed playing opportunities.

"There is no doubt we will miss his character, energy, commitment, and ability.

"We wish him well and we are grateful for the role he has played in driving the club forward."