Hull FC have signed Zak Hardaker for the 2025 season and beyond. Hull Live understands the Black and Whites have completed a deal for the 32-year-old centre, with Director of Rugby, Richie Myler finalising his third signing from Leigh Leopards inside the last two weeks.
Hull have already confirmed Leythers’ loose-forward and captain John Asiata, 31, on a three-year marquee contract for the 2025 season, and Tom Briscoe, who last month joined on an 18-month contract. Hardaker is the club’s third permanent pick up from the Greater Manchester outfit, with the centre, who turns 33 this October, understand to have signed a two-year deal at the East Yorkshire club.
Myler is eager to add an experienced player like Hardaker to the youthful and promising Hull team. He is one of many players at Leigh who are without contracts; it is believed that his present club made him an offer for a new contract, but he chose to sign with Hull instead. After the May 1 anti-tampering date, all out-of-contract players are now formally available for purchase.
The centre, who is also capable of playing at full-back, has made over 350 career appearances having come through the ranks at Featherstone Rovers in 2010 before moving to Leeds Rhinos in 2011. He won multiple Super League and Challenge Cup titles with the Rhinos, and also played for England on the international stage.
Hardaker spent one season at Castleford Tigers in 2017, before moving to Wigan Warriors in 2019. He spent four seasons with the Cherry and Whites, before re-joining Leeds in 2022. He then signed for Leigh in 2023, adding another Challenge Cup medal to his collection with the Leythers last Aug
It’s hoped Hardaker will bring some key on-field qualities to Hull FC as a fierce and experienced competitor. He has had some well-known controversies during his career, including a three-year driving ban picked up this year after drink driving, but is now determined to finish on a high.
He’s one of’six to seven’ new players that Myler plans to bring to Hull. This week, the new Director of Rugby sealed a deal for Yusuf Aydin, who signed a contract to play for the team until the end of 2026 after joining on loan from Hull KR. In other news, they signed Ben Reynolds on a season-long loan and brought Tiaki Chan to the team on a two-week loan from Wigan Warriors.
The Black and Whites are still in operation and are looking to fill positions everywhere, with experience being their first priority. They are known to be interested in and still have at least one quota space available.
