The Parramatta Eels have confirmed five-eighth Dylan Brown will leave the club at the end of the season.
It followed an afternoon where reports claimed Brown would be offered an NRL-record deal from the Newcastle Knights, and the player alluded to his departure on social media.
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News Corp first reported on Monday that Brown, 24, had agreed to sign a 10-year, $13 million deal to join the Knights from next season.
The Eels said Brown had told the club on Monday that 2025 would be his last in blue and gold.
Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill said he believed the deal being offered to Brown would be the largest in NRL history.
“Dylan has been offered what I understand to be the biggest deal in NRL history from 2026 onwards,” O’Neill said.
“Dylan is a class player. We understand his decision to take up the offer and no-one could begrudge him for accepting this opportunity for him and his family.
“Despite agreeing to terms with another NRL club for future seasons, Dylan remains committed to the Eels in 2025 and we look forward to him playing his role in the team for the remainder of the year.”
Reports emerged on Monday afternoon that Brown was on the verge of signing the monster deal with the Knights.
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If the reporting is correct, the deal would surpass the 10-year, $12 million deal the Gold Coast Titans handed Tino Fa’asuamaleaui in 2023.
Following that report, Brown took to social media, hinting that he would leave the Eels at the end of this season.
“Hello everyone, I have decided to take an opportunity that is best for me and my family,” he posted on Instagram.
“To the Blue and Gold family … nothing changes. I’m locked in for this year and we have a job to do.”
The New Zealander, who has represented the Kiwis in eight Test matches, has played 124 matches for the Eels since making his debut in 2019.
Brown played in all 24 games for Parramatta last season, when the side slumped to a lowly 15th.
He was also the starting five-eighth for the Eels’s horror start to 2025, beaten by the Stom in Melbourne 56-18.