Salford Red Devils complete signing of Huddersfield Giants centre on long-term deal from 2025

Salford Red Devils have completed the signing of Huddersfield Giants centre Esan Marsters on a three-year deal from 2025.

Love Rugby League revealed the Red Devils’ interest in the off-contract centre earlier this week.

Marsters has been one of the standout centres in Super League this season, with his partnership alongside Adam Swift regarded as one of the best centre-wing combinations in the competition in 2024.

The 27-year-old’s contract at Huddersfield expires at the end of this season and the Giants were keen to retain him, but have been beaten to the post by Salford, who will have the Cook Islands international at their disposal from next year.

Love Rugby League were told earlier in the week that Greater Manchester outfit had tabled a significant contract offer to get a deal for Marsters over the line, identifying him as a key target for Paul Rowley’s squad plans for the 2025 season and beyond.

READ NEXT: Castleford Tigers recruitment report – Retention plans, Targets and 2025 squad depth analysed

Marsters has four tries and five assists so far in 2024, but he is the second-highest metre-maker in the whole of Super League behind Matt Dufty, and has become integral to the way that Huddersfield are playing this season.

It remains to be seen whether Marsters will arrive at the Salford Community Stadium as a direct replacement for current Red Devils centre Tim Lafai.

Love Rugby League also revealed earlier this week that Lafai was a target for Hull FC – though Salford are yet to receive any formal bid for the Samoan international as things stand.

But with Lafai about to turn 33 and Marsters only 27, it could still be that the Red Devils effectively bring in the Cook Islands international as a replacement if they receive a sufficient enough transfer fee for a player who still has one year left on his contract.

MORE TRANSFERS: Melbourne Storm prop Aaron Pene to join Super League club immediately