Watkins joins Red Devils

England international Kallum Watkins has signed a three-year deal with his boyhood club Salford Red Devils.

The six-time Super League winner, who was a Salford season ticket holder and ball boy while growing up, has joined the Red Devils with immediate effect.

Watkins said: “It’s great to be part of the team and representing Salford will be an honour for me.

“I know it’s been a long time coming in a sense, but I grew up wanting to play rugby league and Salford was key to my development.

“The Club means a great deal to me. If I hadn’t had those opportunities to support the Club and be a ball boy growing up, you don’t know what would have happened.

“I might not be in the position I am, without having those influences.??

???? WATKINS!

👹 A name which means a lot to this club and club which means a lot to him!

🙌 WELCOME HOME!

💪 #TogetherStronger

READ➡??https://t.co/CCaageTGjR pic.twitter.com/m1cAyiYaw0

— Salford Red Devils (@SalfordDevils) September 7, 2020

He added: “My family are really excited and really proud.

“We’ve talked about how good it would be to play for Salford, but also wanting to achieve something big with the Club.??

The 29-year-old played for local amateur sides Langworthy Reds and Folly Lane during his youth and in his professional career has gone on to win the World Club Challenge and represent England in a World Cup Final.

Head coach Ian Watson said: “We are extremely lucky to have been in a position to acquire a player of Kallum’s quality and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to work with him.

“Building a team through players who are competitive and work hard has been really successful for us, but to get a player with both of those traits and world class ability is how we will grow into a team that challenges every year.

“Kallum has that and he recognises our progress as a team and a club, in recruiting other players with these three traits over the last few years.

“Being a local lad, Kallum will be embraced by the Salford supporters and I’m sure over the next few years he will prove to be one of the Club’s best signings and it will show a real intent, not only for the remainder of this year, but in 2021, where we should have a phenomenal back line.??

Director of rugby and operations Ian Blease said: “Kallum’s career speaks for itself and I’m delighted to have brought in a player of his quality to the Club.

“He played locally in his early years and it is fitting he will now wear the Salford shirt as a world-renowned player.

“We have pursued Kallum for some weeks now and after speaking with our coaches and the backroom team, they were so excited at the opportunity of bringing him to the Club and are totally focused on getting Kallum back to his best form, representing Salford Red Devils on the pitch in the Betfred Super League.

“I would like to thank Kallum and his agent for working with me on the deal that now allows him to play in this season’s competitions, and also for committing to the club for the next coming three years.??