Top 14 club Perpignan have officially announced the signing of a key member of the Scotland national team from next season.

Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie is to leave Edinburgh at the end of the 2024-25 campaign to join Perpignan on a two-year deal.

The 28-year-old, who started for Scotland against Italy last week, has 55 caps to his name and has played in two World Cups, captaining them in 2023.

Ritchie, who joined Edinburgh straight from school at the age of 17, made his debut for the club in 2014 and has spent the entirety of his professional career in the Scottish capital.

MORE: English star to make Bath homecoming

“I have literally grown up at this club over the last 10 years and this has been an incredibly hard decision for me and my family to move on,” Ritchie said in a statement.

“I have absolutely loved my time here and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has been a part of that journey, this club means so much to me.

“I just feel that now is the time for a new challenge in a new country and for us as a family to experience a completely different lifestyle. As always I will be fully committed to the team until the end of the season.”

Edinburgh are currently eighth in the Vodacom URC and face Bayonne in the last 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

“We have tried our best to keep Jamie at the club but we must respect his personal decision,” said head coach Sean Everitt. “We wish him the very best in this move to Perpignan.”

The Catalans are currently 11th in the Top 14.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images