Surrey have confirmed that Kevin Pietersen has signed a deal with the club for the new County Championship season.

The 34-year-old batsman will be available for the team's opening game of the campaign on April 19.

Pietersen has returned to county cricket after being told by incoming England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves that it could lead to his England comeback.

He has not played for his country since falling out with the ECB and members of the England squad in the wake of their disastrous 2013-14 Ashes tour of Australia.

Pietersen was released from his contract by Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad in order to play in the County Championship.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be back at Surrey," he told their official website. "It's a club very close to my heart and Alec Stewart, Graham Ford and everyone at the club has been exceptionally supportive.

"There is a fantastic group of lads here and hopefully we can deliver what the great Surrey fans want to see – lots of runs and comprehensive victories."

Pietersen is England's highest ever run-scorer in all formats of the game.