YORK City Knights try-machine Kriss Brining's much-mooted move to Salford Red Devils has finally been confirmed.

The Super League club today announced the signing of the 22-year-old Scarborough-born hooker, with head coach Ian Watson declaring him "ready to make the next step" in his career.

The Press revealed back in May that a top-flight outfit, believed to be Salford, had made an approach for York's home-grown ace, and a month later reported that he would almost certainly be joining them at the end of the season.

A statement on the Super League side's website today says: "Salford Red Devils are delighted to announce the signing of York City Knights player Kriss Brining.

"Brining joins the Red Devils following a fantastic season for the Knights in the Kingstone Press League One, in which he scored 22 tries in just 26 appearances."

Head coach Watson said: “We’ve got a really exciting young talent in Kriss.

"He’s been fantastic for York, getting on the front foot and being a real positive impact. We think he’s ready to make the next step into Super League and be a positive influence here as well.”

Brining was last week named the joint Press Player of the Year alongside Ed Smith.

He has notched 45 tries in 45 games over the past two years, a scoring rate made more remarkable by the fact he plays in an interchange position.

Having first played in York's old scholarship aged 12, his departure comes after a decade with the club, and he told The Press after the play-off defeat in Toulouse that he got "a bit emotional in the changing rooms" - alluding to the fact a move was imminent.

"I've been at this club since I was 12. It's a long time," he said. "But I'm excited by what challenge lies ahead. We'll see what happens."

Having made his debut in April 2011 aged 17 years 148 days, then the club's youngest-ever player, Brining has since made 86 first-team appearances in all, notching 54 tries.

He becomes Watson’s third signing for 2017, alongside Lama Tasi, who returns to the AJ Bell Stadium from St Helens, and prop Daniel Murray, who joins from Warrington Wolves.

Confirmation of his move may have been delayed until Salford's future was known - the Greater Manchester outfit only securing their top-flight status with a miraculous late comeback and golden point extra time drop-goal in the Million Pound Game against Hull KR.

A "significant five-figure" sum had initially been mooted for a mid-season switch, but the wait until the end of the campaign, with Brining's contract with the Knights having now run out, means that will almost certainly not materialise.