Collingwood and Melbourne have agreed on a trade that will send Brodie Grundy to the Dees in return for Pick 27.

Collingwoodย are also expected to pay a portion of Grundy's salary over the next five years.

Grundy's exit from Collingwood is one that has been rumoured for months now, in an effort to free up some cap space to acquire the signature of Jordan De Goey as well as clean up during the trade period.

The 28-year-old is only two years into a seven-year deal that he signed with Collingwood at in 2020, but it's rumoured that Grundy will be taking a small pay cut to join the Demons from 2023.

The ruckman only managed six matches this season after suffering a PCL injury in the ANZAC Day match against Essendon early in the year.

AFL Rd 1 - Collingwood v Western Bulldogs
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19: Brodie Grundy of the Magpies walks off the field after the Magpies lost the round one AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 19, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

He was on track to return in early August before a stress fracture in his ankle ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Collingwood clearly managed fine without him, going on an 11-game win streak with Darcy Cameron as their first-string ruck as well as coming within one point of making the 2022 Grand Final.

In a statement released via Twitter, Grundy expressed his dissapointment to leave Collingwood, stating it's "time to dream a different dream".

โ€œWhen I was drafted to the Collingwood Football club in 2012, I felt proud to be a Collingwood player. When I signed my contract in 2020, my dream was to be a Pie for life,โ€ Grundy wrote.

โ€œMy desire to remain at Collingwood did not change this year. However, after recent conversations with the Club, this dream could no longer be a reality.

โ€œThank you to my teammates who have made my time at Collingwood so special. Over the 10 years, we've gone from teammates, to mates, to family.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Brodie Grundy of the Magpies and Max Gawn of the Demons compete in a ruck contest during the 2017 AFL round 23 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Demons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 26, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

โ€œAnd thank you, to the Magpie Army for the unconditional love and support you've shown me over the past decade, it has made my time at Collingwood infinitely better.

โ€œSigning with Melbourne Football Club today, I am deeply committed to my new Club. I'm looking forward to the contribution I can make to Melbourne and their fans in 2023 and beyond.

โ€œTime to dream a different dream and get to work ahead of the season.โ€

The Dees have handed over Pick 27, and it is expected Grundy will tandem ruck with Max Gawn throughout 2023 after Luke Jackson decided to head home to the West.

Collingwood also set for a busy last few days of the trade period, with Billy Frampton looking likely to join the club and Tom Mitchell also a possibility.