Collingwood Set to Land Ben King in $3 Million Blockbuster Coup
Melbourne, June 21, 2025 — In what shapes as one of the biggest moves of the AFL trade period, Collingwood Football Club is reportedly on the verge of landing Gold Coast Suns star forward Ben King in a sensational $3 million deal.
Sources close to the negotiations have confirmed that the 24-year-old key forward has agreed in principle to a long-term contract with the reigning premiers, paving the way for a blockbuster trade that would send shockwaves across the competition. The deal, expected to span three years at approximately $1 million per season, marks a significant power play from the Magpies as they look to reinforce their forward line and extend their dominance into 2026 and beyond.
The Magpies have been quietly pursuing King for months, with club president Jeff Browne and head of football Graham Wright leading the charge. Despite strong interest from St Kilda and a public desire by the Suns to retain their star forward, Collingwood has reportedly convinced King of their long-term vision, premiership pedigree, and elite culture under coach Craig McRae.
“Ben is the exact kind of player who can elevate us even further,” a senior Collingwood source told The Age. “We’ve had our eyes on him for a while, and to now be this close is incredibly exciting for the club and the fans.”
The trade, which is still being finalised, is expected to involve two first-round draft picks and a fringe Collingwood player yet to be named. While some view the price as steep, insiders believe it’s a worthwhile investment given King’s rare combination of age, athleticism, and proven goal-scoring ability.
Since debuting in 2019, King has kicked 216 goals in 106 AFL games and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous tall forwards in the game. Standing at 202 cm, his marking power and accuracy inside 50 have made him a nightmare matchup for defenders and a player long admired by Collingwood recruiters.
His arrival is set to reshape the Pies’ forward line, which has at times relied heavily on Brody Mihocek and an undersized attack. King’s presence will provide a vital focal point and ease the load on other forwards such as Bobby Hill and Jamie Elliott.
Gold Coast, meanwhile, faces a major blow in losing one of their cornerstone players, but the club is understood to have reluctantly accepted that King wanted a new challenge closer to family and on a bigger stage.
The move is expected to be announced officially once the AFL trade window opens next month.
For Collingwood fans, the news is likely to spark excitement as the club continues to build a formidable list capable of sustained success. If King can replicate his Suns form in black and white, the Magpies could well be looking at a new dynasty in the making.
As one fan put it on social media: “We’ve got Daicos. We’ve got De Goey. And now we’ve got King. This is the stuff premierships are made of.”
