Salford Red Devils’ 2025 recruitment in full as details of reported Super League club concerns emerge

Amid reports of financial uncertainty at Salford Red Devils, we’ve examined the club’s recruitment ahead of the 2025 Super League season.

Salford have been known as a ‘selling’ club in recent seasons with both Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft departing to join Leeds Rhinos around this time last year, whilst Tyler Dupree left the club to link up with Wigan Warriors midway through the 2023 campaign.

Whilst the Red Devils have seen five players leave after the 2024 campaign, it could be argued that they have only lost one major name ahead of the 2025 season as Ollie Partington departs Salford to join Catalans Dragons.

As well as Partington, Amir Bourouh (Hull FC), Andrew Dixon (Retired), Adam Sidlow (Swinton Lions) and Cade Cust (Hull FC)  have left the club and their exits have been remedied with five signings. However, those signings are reportedly a point of contention among other club officials given Salford’s reported financial situation.

An initial report by Rugby League Live claimed that the club requested a £500,000 advance during an emergency meeting of Super League officials. Now, the most recent update from that outlet has revealed that some other officials believe Salford must have known of their financial troubles at the time of making those signings.

Salford Red Devils recruits assessed amidst financial uncertainty

Among those five signings for Salford Red Devils, Esan Marsters is the only overseas quota player brought to the club in a move that likely forces star centre Nene Macdonald onto the wing. Marsters arrives from Huddersfield and he is not the only man to sign from the Giants.

England international Chris Hill will add plenty of experience to the pack as the first of three props to sign for the club. Joe Bullock, who was a loanee in late 2024, and Justin Sangare have also joined Salford Red Devils for the upcoming campaign.

The club’s fifth signing is Sam Davis who Salford swooped in for after London Broncos’ relegation with the hooker set to provide competition for Joe Mellor, following the exit of both Bourouh and Cust.

Salford’s five recruits all look like savvy bits of business and those of a club making the most of their small budget, however, the aforementioned reports from Rugby League Live have highlighted a major issue in the club’s finances.

The initial report was met with a statement from Salford Red Devils citing inaccuracies but generally confirmed the fact they had made such a request and were awaiting a verdict on Monday.

This second report has raised yet more eyebrows, particularly around the fact that Salford’s most recent signing Justin Sangare was only confirmed less than a fortnight ago, at a time when it’s believed the club will have surely known of their financial difficulties. That’s something that has reportedly been questioned by other clubs per Rugby League Live’s report.