Bath have announced fly-half Olly Barkley is to join French club Racing Metro 92 after two more games with the Aviva Premiership team.
England international signed by Top 14 club as a "medical joker"
Bath have announced fly-half Olly Barkley is to join French club Racing Metro 92 after two more games with the Aviva Premiership team.
Barkley has amassed over 200 appearances during two stints at the Rec - he returned to the club in 2009 after a spell with arch-rivals Gloucester.
The 30-year-old, who has been capped 23 times by England, will be available to face London Irish this weekend before signing off his career at Bath with a home game against Sale Sharks on September 29.
He will then make the move to Paris as a "medical joker" as Racing have seen two fly-halves - Jonathan Wisniewski and Benjamin Dambielle - pick up injuries that could see them sidelined until after Christmas.
Opportunity
The Top 14 team are also currently without their regular number in 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, who is away on international commitments with Argentina.
Barkley said: "Bath Rugby is in my heart and it always will be. When I no longer play the game, this will be the club I come to watch.
"I will be forever a Bath boy but this, for me, was simply the opportunity of a lifetime and one I just couldn't ignore. I will miss the club always, and I wish all of my mates here the very best."
Head coach Gary Gold said: "Barks is a great bloke and a top player. I could not have been more impressed with both his attitude and his incredibly professional approach since I arrived.
"As a senior player, he could not have worked harder or been more welcoming to us as a group of coaches, but every now and then an offer lands on the table that a bloke just can't refuse."
Bath, meanwhile, have confirmed the signing of hooker Brett Sharman on a short-term loan as injury cover for Rob Webber.
Northampton terminated South African Sharman's contract last month on medical grounds due to a knee injury that has sidelined him since January.
