After the current season, Mitchell Killeen, an all-rounder for Durham, has agreed to sign a two-year contract with Essex. Ahead of the 2026 season, Killeen has chosen to move his headquarters to Essex after making his Durham debut in a One-Day Cup game in 2022.
He has participated in three first-class games and nine List A games thus far, including an outstanding 5 for 36 in his County Championship debut earlier this year. In addition, he has played for the Professional County Club XI and England Under-19s. With almost 400 runs and 18 wickets during the 2024 season, the 20-year-old—the son of former Durham seamer and current England bowling consultant Neil Killeen—was named Durham’s second XI player of the year.
“I can’t wait to start playing for Essex in 2026. Essex’s cricket team is outstanding, and they have clearly had a lot of success lately. According to ESPNcricinfo, Mitchell stated, “As soon as Chris Silverwood contacted me, I knew I wanted to be involved with what he is trying to build at Chelmsford.”
“I think my cricket is improving, and I’ll work hard to earn a spot in the first squad on a regular basis. I’m excited to meet the rest of the team before the upcoming season, and I know a few of the younger players from my time with the England Under-19s,” he continued.
In an effort to bolster their bowling arsenal for the next campaign, the Essex team signed Killeen after acquiring Zaman Akhter from Gloucestershire. Dan Feist, their chief executive officer, was excited about Mitchell’s growth with the company and commended his potential. According to Feist, Killeen’s arrival enables the team to strengthen their bowling attack and further develop the player.
“Bringing Mitchell to the club makes us very happy. We have witnessed his abilities this season in both the first-class and List A formats, and he is a young seamer with a lot of promise. He will give the bowling attack more depth, and we’re excited to watch him improve at Essex,” Feist added.
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