ITV has announced that Ed Chamberlin will present its racing coverage when the channel takes over from current broadcaster Channel 4 in 2017.

Chamberlin will join ITV from Sky Sports, where he has been lead presenter of their football coverage, and has a background in racing, having previously worked for Ladbrokes.

He said in a statement: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining ITV and to be given this great opportunity.

“These are exciting times with ITV returning as the home of British racing from January 1, 2017.”

Chamberlin has been a long-established member of the Sky Sports operation and, in recent years, was the presenter of the network’s Monday Night Football show.

He added: “I had 16 years at Sky full of great memories and brilliant people. It was hard to leave but this opportunity was too good to miss.

ITV has signed an exclusive four-year deal to cover racing on its main channel and ITV4, with the new era beginning in January.

There will be almost 100 days of televised racing on both channels, in addition to a Saturday morning magazine-style show on ITV4.

ITV director of sport Niall Sloane said: “Ed’s skill as a presenter of live sport is matched only by his love of racing, so we’re delighted to bring someone with his attributes on board as we build up to our coverage starting in the new year.”

The remainder of ITV’s racing team has not yet been announced, but names in the frame include Matt Chapman, Oli Bell and Francesca Cumani.