The 32-year-old, who toured Pakistan and Sri Lanka with England in 2000/01, spent 10 years at Grace Road before joining Kent three years ago.

But he has not been offered a new contract and has signed a three-year deal with the Foxes as a replacement for the released Neil Burns.

New general manager Kevin Hill was pleased to have won the chase for Nixon's signature.

"I believe his experience, ability and enthusiasm will help us achieve continued success in the future," he said

"This is the first of what we hope will be a number of signings that will put together a squad capable of challenging for all four domestic competitions."

The move reverses a trend for big names leaving the cash-strapped club, with Aftab Habib, James Ormond, Ben Smith and Jon Dakin all departing in the last year.

But Hill is still to sign a group of veterans, including former skipper Vince Wells, Darren Stevens, Devon Malcolm and Trevor Ward to new contracts.

Nixon said that he was thrilled to rejoin his former team-mates after the shock of being turned out at Canterbury.

"I'm confident I will be able to play my part in helping to achieve the success everyone at the club wants and I think there could be exciting times ahead," he went on.

"I spoke to a few other counties and in the end it was a family decision to return to Leicestershire and it is great to be back."