Rehan Ahmed Joins Birmingham Phoenix Ahead of New Era in The Hundred

England allrounder Rehan Ahmed has joined Birmingham Phoenix as their first direct signing for the 2026 season of The Hundred, marking a significant move ahead of the competition’s new era under private ownership.

The 21-year-old leg-spinning allrounder moves from Trent Rockets, runners-up in the 2025 edition, where he enjoyed a productive campaign. Rehan claimed 12 wickets and scored over 180 runs, underlining his growing influence as a genuine match-winner in the format.

Rehan’s impact has extended beyond The Hundred. His leg-spin variations and fearless batting played a key role in helping Leicestershire secure the County Championship Division Two title. He finished the season with 23 wickets at an average of 19 and an impressive batting average of 50.67, which included five centuries.

Birmingham Phoenix’s signing of Rehan signals the start of their recruitment drive ahead of the 2026 season. He is the first player brought in by performance director James Thomas and newly appointed men’s head coach Shane Bond. Under the revised rules, teams are permitted to directly sign or retain up to four players ahead of the player auction, scheduled for March, with Rehan becoming Phoenix’s first addition during this window.

“The vision and strategy set out by James and Bondy was something that I really wanted to be a part of, so I’m happy to have signed for the Birmingham Phoenix,” Rehan said. “It’s an ambitious franchise with big plans and Edgbaston is obviously an amazing place to play cricket. I’m really looking forward to getting started next year and hopefully being part of a squad which will challenge for silverware in The Hundred.”

Thomas said Rehan was a key target from the outset. “He is one of the players we identified very early on as somebody who aligns perfectly with our strategy,” he said. “He is one of the most highly rated players in the country and has the ability to make a huge impact with both bat and ball. Although he is still in the early stages of his career, there is no doubt about his ability and we are confident he will be a key player for the Birmingham Phoenix next season.”

Rehan’s move comes after a recent injury setback. Last month, he returned home early from the England Lions’ tour of Australia after suffering a leg muscle strain while playing against England in a warm-up match ahead of the first Ashes Test in Perth. He has since returned to Australia to feature for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, where he conceded five runs from a wicketless over and scored 2 from 5 balls in their opening four-wicket win over Sydney Thunder.

Prior to his injury, there had been speculation that Rehan could remain with the senior England squad following the conclusion of the Lions programme, after missing out on selection as the second spinner in the Ashes squad behind Will Jacks. Jacks has since earned call-ups for the second and third Tests, with the latter currently underway in Adelaide.

Rehan has played 23 matches for England across formats to date, including five Tests, and continues to be regarded as one of the country’s most promising young allrounders.