Wasps have vented frustrations in confirming England starter Elliot Daly will leave the Coventry club at the end of the season, with Saracens his expected destination.
Rugby director Dai Young refused to hide his disappointment in admitting Daly has used a release clause in his contract to leave despite a year remaining on his Wasps contract.
British and Irish Lions flier Daly's departure will prove a significant blow to Wasps, who will also lose England number eight Nathan Hughes to Bristol this summer.
Wasps can confirm that Elliot Daly will be leaving the Club at the end of the season. More at https://t.co/Qt1qmNnpmY pic.twitter.com/d0vxKDUbn5 — Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) February 4, 2019
Wasps have already secured the prize signature of All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa for next season, but will also lose the influential South Africa full-back Willie Le Roux in the summer.
"Elliot triggered a release clause in his contract and despite our best efforts to keep him at the club, unfortunately he has decided to move onto pastures new for the 2019/20 season," said Wasps rugby director Young.
"We are really disappointed to lose Elliot, we brought him through the ranks from his teenage years and have seen him flourish into an established England international and also a British and Irish Lion.
"He has really developed his all-round game in the black and gold, having been a tremendous performer for us over the years and I am sure he will continue to give his all for the club until the end of the season."
Daly has amassed 404 points in 188 appearances for Wasps having graduated from the club's academy.
The 26-year-old boasts 26 England and three Lions Test caps, and produced a try-scoring, starring role from full-back as Eddie Jones' men prevailed 32-20 in Ireland in Saturday's Guinness Six Nations opener.
Daly's much-rumoured move to Premiership giants Saracens has been coloured as surrounding Wasps' continued fight to secure a permanent training ground in the Coventry area.
The Croydon-born utility back insisted the training ground has had no bearing on his decision to leave, however.
"This has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life," said Daly.
"Despite some of the rumours flying around, the training ground has nothing to do with why I've come to my decision to leave.
"I simply feel it is the right time for me to seek a new challenge next season after the World Cup.
"I'd like to thank everyone at Wasps, from my old junior academy coaches right up to Dai (Young) and chairman Derek Richardson, for giving me the opportunities and helping me reach the top of the game over the last 12 years.
"Wasps will always have a special place in my heart and I will certainly be giving everything to the jersey to try and finish the season strongly."
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