Surrey confirm Pietersen signing

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has signed to play for Surrey next season.

The 30-year-old, who is currently in Australia for the Ashes series, has agreed a deal with Surrey until September 2011, a spokesman for the county confirmed.

Pietersen spent the end of the 2010 season on loan at the Brit Oval after announcing his plans to quit Hampshire at the end of the campaign.

Pietersen has been struggling to rediscover the world-beating form he brought to the England team before the Achilles injury he suffered mid-Ashes in July last year.

He has not scored a Test century since the West Indies series in March 2009.

The South African-born star, who still averages just over 49 in Tests, was dropped by the national team for the one-day series against Pakistan at the end of August.

Pietersen joined Hampshire from Nottinghamshire in 2004.

After his loan spell at Surrey he had a brief stint last month playing for South African side Kwazulu Natal Dolphins in a bid to regain his form ahead of the Ashes.

England and Australia meet in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane on Thursday.