Jack de Belin Notifies Dragons of His Departure to Sydney Rival After 15 Years with the Club

Dragons veteran Jack de Belin is set to conclude his playing career in a new jersey, having agreed to a two-year contract with the Eels.

The 34-year-old was without a contract for the upcoming season, and according to The Sydney Morning Herald, he notified his current team on Wednesday of his decision to depart.

As the most seasoned player in the St George Illawarra lineup, de Belin could have become the club’s all-time leader in appearances if he had chosen to stay for an additional season.

The former NSW Blues lock will officially join Parramatta for 2026, which includes an option to extend his stay for another year.

This is a significant grab for Jason Ryles, who has been aiming to bolster his squad following the offseason exits of Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

The official announcement will be held until the conclusion of a 10-day cooling off period.

De Belin has been one of the standout performers for the Red V this season, participating in all 13 matches and averaging 110 run metres alongside 34 tackles per game.

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While de Belin’s career is nearing its end, he has frequently mentioned that his physique is in better shape than many of his contemporaries at the same age, thanks to the significant time he spent away from the sport during the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.

This isn’t the first instance of de Belin being linked to another club since Shane Flanagan took over as head coach; last year the Rabbitohs showed interest before he opted for a one-year extension for 2025.