- The Paramatta Eels could be set to lose on of their biggest stars next year
- It comes as Newcastle are looking to make a big swoop for one playmaker
Paramatta Eels star Dylan Brown is understood to have told team-mates that he will be parting ways with the club at the end of the 2025 NRL season having agreed a lucrative deal with Newcastle Knights.
The five-eighth is set to join the Broadmeadow-based club on a 10-year deal that according to The Daily Telegraph will see him earn around $13million.
He will be 36 years old by the time the stand-off’s contract comes to an end.
The Eels star confirmed the news on Monday night, writing on his Instagram story: ‘Hello everyone, I have decided to take an opportunity that is best for me and my family.
‘To the Blue and Gold family… nothing changes. I’m locked in for this year and we have a job to do. Love.’
While the outlet reports Newcastle are ‘confident’ that the 24-year-old will sign until the end of 2035, it is understood that the Eels have a 10-day period to make a formal ‘counter bid’.
Paramatta Eels star Dylan Brown is understood to have told team-mates that he will be parting ways with the club at the end of the 2025 NRL
Brown took to Instagram on Monday seemingly confirming he has joined up with the Knights
Paramatta had been hoping that Brown would extend his nine-year deal with the club, and there is a chance that he could renege on the deal and stay with Jason Ryles’ side, having been given a 10-day cooling off period.
It is understood that his deal could trump that of Gold Coast star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s, whose contract at the Titans is said to be worth around $12m in 2023.
The move, should it be fully ratified, will mean Brown will link up with fellow five-eighth superstar, Kalyn Ponga at Newcastle in what would be a prolific back-line partnership.
The 24-year-old New Zealand international joined the Eels back in 2019, having previously played in Paramatta’s junior sides.
He would make his NRL debut at the age of 18 and has since gone on to return 31 tries across 124 appearances for the club as well as 65 try assists.
But the Eels are fighting to retain Brown. Should he leave the club, he will pocket around $1.3m-per-season, putting him in the bracket of the NRL’s top earners, alongside Ponga ($1.4) and Nathan Cleary at ($1.3).
His current deal at the Eels is worth approximately $1.1m.
It is understood that Eels bosses were keen for him to stay at the club, with halfback partner Mitchell Moses having previously spoken out on speculation that Brown could leave Paramatta.
It is understood the Knights have offered him a deal worth around $13m over the next 10 seasons
‘That’s up to Dyl, I hope he stays, I love him, I love him to death,’ Moses said.
‘I feel like I play my best footy with Dylan. That’s a decision he’s going to have to make in due course.
‘It’s up to him, you (have to) give him as much time as he wants.’
The news comes just days after Ryles’ side suffered a 56-18 drubbing in their season opener against Melbourne Storm.
