Sophie Luff has signed for Somerset County Cricket Club, it has been revealed.

The 30-year-old becomes the first player to be announced for the new Women’s Tier 1 team which will take to the field in 2025.

The top order batter from Taunton played her way through the Somerset age groups before making her debut for the Somerset Women in 2009. She has featured in 74 List A matches for the Club, scoring 2330 runs at an average of 43.14 with a highest score of 138 not out. She has also played in 68 T20 matches, scoring 1675 runs at an average of 35.63. She captained the side between 2017 and 2022.

The former England Academy, Development and Under 19 international, who played her club cricket for Bath, has been an ever present for Western Storm since their inception in 2016 and was named Captain in 2020.

She is the first player to have reached 100 appearances for Storm and during that time has scored over 1760 runs in List A cricket at an average of 50.54 with a best of 157 not out. Her T20 record for Storm is equally impressive, with her 54 innings yielding over 850 runs at an average of 25.90 and a best of 78.

Sophie, who has signed a three-year deal, has represented Welsh Fire, London Spirit and Southern Brave in The Hundred.

After becoming the first player to be announced, Sophie said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have signed for Somerset. This is a childhood dream of mine and one that I never thought would be possible. Somerset is a Club that I’ve been associated with since I was 12, so I’ve got a real affiliation with what is a really special club. It’s a full circle moment and that’s really special for me and my family.

“I grew up watching the likes of Marcus Trescothick at Taunton and wanting to emulate those players. The fact that young girls can now grow up aspiring to be female role models who have come through the Somerset Academy is great. It hasn’t really sunk in that girls will potentially be looking up to us. We have a real platform now to show them that cricket is a viable career option.

“I’m really grateful to everyone involved with Western Storm for giving me the opportunities that I’ve had since 2016. To have been able to captain a side that represents the region means a tremendous amount. I’ve loved every minute of the last nine seasons and I’m looking forward to the challenge that the future holds.”