Kansas City Chiefs confirmed the signing of former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on Friday.
Rees-Zammit shocked the rugby world when he left the sport to pursue a career in the NFL, embarking on the International Player Pathway in January.
The 23-year-old held contract talks with several teams before ultimately heading to Kansas City to sign an $884,000 contract with the Super Bowl winners.
The franchise confirmed the addition of ‘Rees-Lightning’ on social media on Friday afternoon and asked Chiefs Kingdom to extend a warm welcome to the Welshman.
The organization appeared to confirm that the former Gloucester winger would play at the running back position as they look to bolster quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ offense ahead of their quest to three-peat next season.
Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed the signing of former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit
The Welshman will join Travis Kelce and co in the offense as running back
The 23-year-old held contract talks with several teams after impressing at the IPP Pro Day
The Chiefs have not disclosed the exact details of Rees-Zammit’s contract, but NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier on Friday that he is believed to have put pen to paper on a three-year contract worth $884,000.
Rees-Zammit will join the roster of the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions, who last month became the first team to retain the Vince Lombardi Trophy for nearly 20 years.
The former British and Irish Lions youngster is also said to have visited the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos after impressing at the IPP with his pace and strength.
Ultimately, he chose Kansas City, where he will undergo summer training camp before the 2024 season begins in September.
When Rees-Zammit retired from rugby in January, it caused disbelief. The announcement came about two weeks before his Wales team started their Six Nations campaign against Scotland, where he would have been a key figure.
But in a barely believable turn of events, it appears he will be lining up for the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium starting in September.
Andy Reid’s team shot to fame last season when star man Kelce started dating Taylor Swift – with music’s biggest star personally cheering on the team at 13 games, including the Super Bowl in Vegas.
Rees-Zammit will not be joined in the US by his YouTube star girlfriend Saffron Barker after the couple announced their split last week.
Rees-Zammit stunned the rugby world in January when he retired from rugby
Now he will pursue a career in the NFL after agreeing to join the likes of Patrick Mahomes
But he won’t be moving to Kansas City with YouTube star girlfriend Saffron Barker after the couple announced their split last week
It comes just four months after the social media star and the sportsman made their first red carpet appearance together at the world premiere of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes in November.
Unsurprisingly, Rees-Zammit’s blazing speed has impressed a host of NFL scouts.
He posted a time of 4.43 in his 40-yard dash at the NFL’s International Pathway Program (IPP) pro day, as well as a broad jump of 9ft 7in and a vertical jump of 29in.
And on Monday it was announced that the ex-rugby player had signed a deal to be represented by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
