'Best for me and my family': Dylan Brown confirms Knights move on 10-year, $14 million deal
Updated . First published at
Dylan Brown's contract saga has come to an end.
As first reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, the 24-year-old has agreed to join the Knights on a 10-year deal from next season.
It's estimated the contract will be worth around $14 million in total, marking the richest contract the NRL has ever seen.
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Dylan Brown will leave the Eels at the end of 2025. Getty
Brown informed teammates of his decision on Monday, despite having until round 10 to enact his player option for 2026, before confirming the news on social media.
"Hello everyone, I have decided to take an opportunity that is best for me and my family," he wrote via Instagram.
"To the blue and gold family ... nothing changes, I'm locked in for this year and we have a job to do."
Dylan Brown's Instagram story after deciding to leave the Eels. Instagram
It's a major blow for the blue and gold, who have only just started a rebuild under head coach Jason Ryles and recently extended the contract of halfback Mitchell Moses.
The decision also comes 24 hours after a horror round one loss to the Melbourne Storm.
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The fleet-footed Kiwi signed an eight-year contract with the Eels that would have taken him through until the end of 2031, should he have decided to take up the clauses.
Brown's management had pushed for an upgraded deal that would have removed the player options, but Parramatta officials knocked it back despite their desire to keep him.
His move to Newcastle will see Brown form a lethal combination with star fullback Kalyn Ponga, with the pair set to take up a large chunk of the club's salary cap.
Kalyn Ponga in action for the Knights. NRL Imagery
At this stage, neither club has confirmed the news of Brown's switch.
Regarded as one of the game's best five-eighths, Brown has already notched up 124 first-grade appearances for the Eels and has plenty of football ahead of him.
Brown has also played eight Test matches for New Zealand.
