Premier League champions Liverpool have parted ways with Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, who completed a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal on Saturday.
Nunez, 25, joined the Saudi Pro League club on a three-year deal for a reported £46.3 million ($62 million).
Al-Hilal — the most decorated team in Saudi Arabia — had been seeking another star addition after releasing Brazilian great Neymar in January. Previous attempts to sign Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes fell through, while former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was also linked.
Since arriving at Liverpool, Nunez showcased flashes of brilliance but never fully cemented his role as the Reds’ first-choice centre-forward. He netted 40 goals in 143 appearances, helping the club lift the Premier League trophy last season. However, he started only once in the league in 2025 and managed just seven goals in 47 matches across all competitions last term.
With Liverpool bolstering their attack this summer through the signings of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz — and reported interest in Newcastle’s Alexander Isak — Nunez’s future at Anfield had been uncertain.
The move sees him join a growing list of top European players heading to Saudi Arabia since Cristiano Ronaldo’s switch to Al Nassr in 2022, including Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez.
Al-Hilal, who stunned Manchester City in last season’s Club World Cup, already boasts stars such as Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic. The team is managed by two-time Champions League runner-up Simone Inzaghi.
The club has claimed a record 19 Saudi league titles and four Asian championships but finished runners-up to Al-Ittihad last season.
Source: Agency