Johnson's BBL future confirmed: reports

After months of speculation, Mitchell Johnson has signed on the dotted line and will feature in this summer's KFC Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers, according to reports.

Johnson had declared himself "keen" to play with the Scorchers earlier this month after a tug-of-war between Perth and the Brisbane Heat, and is now understood to have signed on to play, although the Scorchers declined to officially confirm the deal.

Johnson would replace Brad Hogg as a cult hero for the Perth Scorchers' vocal crowd at the WACA – renamed The Furnace for the Big Bash League – after the veteran spinner made a shock move to the Melbourne Renegades for BBL|06.

He was reported to have signed a one-year deal by WA Today, and will reassess after this season if he would return in future years.

Johnson had said the prospect of working closely with Perth's talented young left-armers Joel Paris and Jason Behrendorff was a particular lure as he look towards future opportunities in coaching and mentoring.

"I see myself more doing more of the mentoring role," Johnson told Fox Sports earlier this month.

"Maybe coaching a bit more like what Dennis Lillee did, in that you come in for a week here or there, come into certain teams or work with individual players.

"I feel that's probably more suited to me than a big team-based (role)."

Johnson, who was born in Townsville in Queensland's north, had been on the Brisbane Heat's books for several Big Bash seasons but his international commitments never allowed him to suit up in teal. He moved to Perth in 2008, where he lives with wife Jessica and two children.

Johnson retired from Test cricket at the WACA last summer with 311 Test wickets to his name, and had a below par Indian Premier League, playing just three of 14 games.

But he said time on the sidelines – and some conversations with Scorchers coach Justin Langer – had helped him rediscover the "fire in the belly".

"(The Big Bash is) a pretty awesome tournament, a lot of the boys talk about how much fun they have and the ratings for it have been huge," Johnson told Fox Sports earlier this month.

"The way (Scorchers coach) Justin (Langer) has put it to me in the conversations we've had is he wants me to go out there and have some fun.

"So that takes a lot of pressure off me. I've been so used to being the No.1 strike bowler for so many years, it definitely puts pressure on you to perform.

"He wants me to go and be with the boys, enjoy the atmosphere of the dressing room, train with the boys and help out.

"That's the big thing I'm looking forward to, being involved with the young guys coming through."