Matty Smith looks set to sign a four-year deal with St Helens later this week, according to Sky sources.
Wigan Warriors are understood to have agreed to release the England scrum-half from his contract at the DW Stadium which still had two years to run.
The 29-year-old will then return to his hometown club ahead of their 2017 Super League campaign.
Smith began his career with Saints after coming through the junior ranks at Knowsley Road, but struggled to secure a regular starting spot and had loans spells with Widnes, Celtic Crusaders and Salford.
He signed for Salford on a permanent deal after the 2010 season before switching to Wigan in July 2012 when he was released from his contract with the City Reds.
Smith, who has made four appearances for England, has since been a regular in the Wigan side - playing over 100 matches and scoring over 500 points - but he has now decided to head home to St Helens with the final stages of the contract negotiations now taking place.