Louis Rees-Zammit, the former Wales rugby sensation, has inked a deal with the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 23-year-old attracted interest from multiple NFL teams, holding discussions with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and Denver Broncos.
Having been part of the 2024 international player pathway (IPP), Rees-Zammit makes the move to the Chiefs a mere 10 weeks after departing Welsh rugby ahead of the Six Nations tournament.
Expressing his excitement, Rees-Zammit, in a video shared on X, eagerly anticipates connecting with Chiefs supporters at the famed Arrowhead Stadium.
Prior to this transition, Rees-Zammit was reportedly earning around £225,000 annually at Gloucester, supplemented by bonuses for his performances with Wales.
With his new NFL venture, Rees-Zammit is set to earn £9,500 per week if he lands a spot on the practice squad, totaling £170,000 over the NFL season, as per The Telegraph.
Should Rees-Zammit secure a spot on the final 53-man roster, he stands to make a minimum of £594,350 per year, meeting the NFL’s baseline salary threshold of $750,000.
In contrast, the top earners on the Chiefs roster include superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who commands an impressive £42 million ($52.65 million) annually, and tight end Travis Kelce, who rakes in a substantial £11.3 million ($14.3 million) per season, according to Chiefs Wire.
Meanwhile, running back Isiah Pacheco is currently on a rookie deal, earning slightly over £740,000 ($934,000) per season in his second year with the team, as reported by DAZN.
Rees-Zammit broke up with YouTuber to date famous swimsuit model and DJ
Rees-Zammit’s personal life has also been a hot topic, featuring relationships with high-profile personalities, from a Premier League legend’s daughter to a famous YouTuber and a notable model/DJ.
Alicia Scholes
In December 2019, before his international debut for Wales, Rees-Zammit posted a photo of himself playing for Gloucester. Alicia Scholes, daughter of football legend Paul Scholes, humorously suggested an England debut was imminent, despite Rees-Zammit’s Welsh roots. He firmly replied, “Wales*”.
In a BBC interview, Rees-Zammit spoke about his past relationship with Alicia, a professional netball player for London Pulse. He revealed the light-hearted attempts by her father to sway him towards England, which he steadfastly resisted.
Alicia and her father Paul found themselves in the spotlight in 2021 due to a viral video that led to playful banter among rival supporters.