GLOUCESTER have signed lock Ed Slater from Leicester Tigers in exchange for England wing Jonny May.

May has scored nine tries in 27 Tests for England, and he started both games against Argentina on the recent summer tour.

Gloucester rugby director David Humphreys said that 27-year-old May decided he wanted to call time on his nine-year Cherry and Whites career.

"Jonny approached the club and explained he wanted to leave Gloucester, and immediately our attention turned to strengthening the squad and the type of person we needed to recruit," Humphreys said.

"Jonny has been a big part of Gloucester over the past nine years, and everybody at the club wishes him the best in his future career.

"He has been an outstanding player, and very popular with the Gloucester supporters.

"But once he decided he didn't want to play for the club again, we had to move on and strengthen the squad ahead of the new season."

Slater can play either in the second or back rows, and Humphreys added: "Johan Ackermann (Gloucester's new head coach) has made it very clear that we need to dominate teams up-front if we are to be successful, and we feel that Ed's inclusion in the squad will add a lot to that key objective.

"Ed's leadership ability will also be a great influence on the rest of the pack, and he brings tremendous experience."

May, meanwhile, will strengthen a Leicester squad already boosted by the signing of his England team-mate George Ford from Bath, with his arrival in the East Midlands following the departures of backs JP Pietersen and Peter Betham to Toulon and Clermont Auvergne respectively.

Reflecting on May's signing, Leicester head coach Matt O'Connor told the club's official website: "We are absolutely delighted to add to the quality of our backs with the signing of Jonny May.

"Jonny is a proven international and has played a lot of rugby at Premiership and Test level and will add a lot of experience to the squad.

"He is an out-and-out finisher with an outstanding try-scoring record, and I think he is a fantastic addition to the group."

Slater has made over 130 appearances for the Tigers and was part of the 2013 squad that lifted the Aviva Premiership title.

He was club captain at Welford Road in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 campaigns, as well as captaining England against Crusaders in Christchurch on the summer tour of 2014.

Humphreys added: "We are really happy that Ed Slater has agreed to join Gloucester.

"I have long been an admirer of Ed. Through With his leadership, experience and power he can add to our forward pack and we have tried to bring him to Kingsholm in the past previously.

"We firmly believe that Gloucester is an exciting club to be at, with a bright future under Johan Ackermann, and we are excited to see what Ed can bring to the Cherry and White jersey.

"We've made no secret of our intent to have an abrasive forward unit and Ed's skillset is exactly what we have been looking for.”