CONTROVERSIAL pace bowler Andre Nel has signed a three year deal at Surrey.

The fiery South African will join up with the county when the squad returns from the pre-season Emirates Airline ProARCH Tournament in Dubai.

The 31-year-old will be a full-time member of the squad after recently ending his central contract with Cricket South Africa and announcing his retirement from the international game.

A well known international star for a number of years, Nel has played 36 Tests and 79 One Day Internationals in an 11 year career.

His whole hearted approach to the game, which Nel has put down to his bizarre alter ego Gunther, occasionally boils over and has landed him hot-water with officials over the years.

However, with an impressive first-class bowling average of 27.00 and a One Day average of 25.39, Nel will add experience and fire to Surrey's pace bowling attack alongside Pedro Collins, Chris Jordan, Jade Dernbach, Alex Tudor, Stuart Meaker and Jimmy Ormond.

Due to his nationality, Nel is able to sign for the Brown Caps as a 'Kolpak' player, thus allowing the club's cricket management staff to employ New Zealander Grant Elliott as an overseas player for the first half of the season.

Speaking after signing his contract, Nel said: "I am delighted to be joining Surrey as I enter a new phase of my career.

"I have had a number of fantastic experiences here in the UK with South Africa, Northamptonshire and Essex and cannot wait to return to join up with Surrey.

"They are a huge club, entering an exciting new era with Chris Adams at the helm, and I am looking forward to using my experience to work with some of the younger bowlers on the staff and ensure they get back to the top of the English game.

"I cannot wait to arrive in April and pull on the Surrey shirt for the first game of the season."

Nel becomes the second new player signed by Surrey Professional Cricket Manager Chris Adams, who added: "The addition of Andre Nel to the Surrey dressing room underlines the ambition I have for the club.

"He has proven pace, power and wicket taking ability and will be a fantastic addition to our pace team.

"As a proven international bowler, Andre will bring aggression on the pitch and experience off it. With exciting home developed fast bowlers such as Jade Dernbach and Stuart Meaker also at the club, Surrey will be a force to be reckoned with in 2009 and beyond."