Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool career is over after the Premier League champions agreed a £53million deal to sell him to Al-Hilal.
The Uruguay international will move to the Saudi Pro League, having made it clear to Liverpool officials earlier in the summer that he saw his future away from Anfield.
Nunez had asked to leave Liverpool as far back as January, when he was again the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia, but they took the decision to keep him for the remainder of the campaign so he could play a part in the successful title pursuit.
Liverpool had received an offer from Napoli in June for Nunez but it was immediately rebuffed, as the Italian champions proposed a fee of just over £45million that would be paid in instalments – which would not begin until the summer of 2026.
Nunez, to his credit, returned to training with Liverpool with a positive approach and his performances in pre-season have been encouraging, as he scored plenty of goals, including a behind-closed-doors hat-trick against Stoke.
It was evident, though, that Nunez was going to struggle for regular starts and Liverpool have structured a deal with Al-Hilal that will see them recoup a number of bonuses should he thrive at his new club.
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Al-Hilal for Darwin Nunez to leave the Anfield club
The Uruguay international will move to the Saudi Pro League in a £53m deal this summer
Arne Slot’s side will now redouble their efforts to bring in a new striker, with Newcastle’s Alexsander Isak the preferred target
When Nunez arrived in 2022, Liverpool paid Benfica a guaranteed £75miillion and the fee would have risen to a then club record £84million had he prospered.
His start was encouraging, with goals against Manchester City in the Community Shield and Fulham on his Premier League debut but things turned when he was sent-off on his Anfield debut against Crystal Palace.
He remained a popular figure with supporters and his contributions were significant last season, not least with his double at Brentford in January being critical in shaping the outcome of the title race.
Liverpool will now redouble their efforts to bring in a new striker, with Newcastle’s Alexsander Isak the preferred target. It is understood, though, Liverpool will only pursue a move if a target represents fair market value and is realistically attainable.
Newcastle’s stance around Isak, who remains at loggerheads with St James’s Park top brass, means there is no foregone conclusion that the Sweden international will get his desired switch.
