Wells, 35, who lost the captaincy to Peter Moores at the end of last summer, has accepted a five-year contract at Canterbury.

It would be little consolation to the Sussex supporters that Neil Taylor, a capable batsman released by Kent at the age of 37, is likely to be moving in the other direction to Hove.

The exodus from Sussex has been an extraordinary chapter, possibly unprecedented on the circuit, and there could a fifth departure to come, with Martin Speight still unsettled.

The absence of Wells, Ian Salisbury (to Surrey), Danny Law (to Essex) and Ed Giddins, who was sacked and will be joining Warwickshire, has left Desmond Haynes and Moores with difficult tasks as coach and captain next summer.

Last season the batting rarely set the scoreboard alight, to say the least, and in the bowling James Kirtley and Jason Lewry will have extra responsibility thrust upon them as seamers of exciting potential alongside Vasbert Drakes, the county's West Indian overseas player.

The loss of Wells after 16 years on the staff is an especially harsh blow because he has proved himself a reliable, top-class batsmen in England for more than a decade, though one Test cap in 1995 was his only reward. Sussex will miss his ability to increase the tempo.

He said yesterday: ``The recent exodus of players from Hove isn't the reason for my departure. The captaincy issue initiated all the upheaval, and I decided to look around and see what was available.''

The Sussex committee agreed to release him from the remaining two years of his contract.

Taylor joined Kent in 1979. He did not make a championship appearance last summer, though he scored more than 16,000 firstclass runs in his career at an average of nearly 40.

Wells declined an offer from Gloucestershire, and it is hardly surprising Kent said yesterday they were ``absolutely delighted'' to have signed him.

Derek Ufton, Kent's chairman of cricket, said: ``Alan is a class player with a lot of cricket left in him. He wanted security for himself and his family and we felt that offering him a five-year contract was realistic.''

Ufton added: ``The move has got the backing of the rest of the Kent squad. I've spoken to all the senior players and they were unanimous with their support.''

Nigel Bett, Sussex's chief executive, commented: ``Everybody at the club is extremely sad that Alan has decided to leave, but we must look forward. While his experience will be greatly missed, we have a number of talented young players who will have the opportunity to establish themselves in the team.''

Chris Adams, the Derbyshire batsman, has been fined an undisclosed sum by the county for saying he wanted to leave the club with two years of his contract still to run.