Darwin Núñez Moves to Saudi Arabia in €65M Switch from Liverpool

Liverpool have finalized the transfer of Darwin Núñez to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in a deal worth €53 million guaranteed, with add-ons potentially raising the total to €65 million, the 26-year-old striker, who joined the Reds from Benfica in 2022 for a club-record €85 million, is set to undergo a medical in Germany before signing a long-term contract with Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi, Núñez’s departure follows a mixed three-year spell at Anfield, where he scored 40 goals in 143 appearances but struggled for consistency, starting just eight Premier League games in Liverpool’s title winning 2024-25 campaign, the move marks a significant step in Al-Hilal’s ambitious project, adding Núñez to a squad featuring Ruben Neves, João Cancelo, and Aleksandar Mitrović.

With Núñez’s exit confirmed, Liverpool are expected to re-enter the market for a marquee striker, having already seen a £110 million bid rejected for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, the Reds remain admirers of the Swedish forward but face stiff competition, with Newcastle valuing him at £150 million and demanding a replacement be secured first, meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s structured payment plan reportedly including a sell-on clause helps Liverpool offset the loss, with the club’s net spend this summer now standing at €112.5 million after high-profile signings like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Núñez, who scored five goals in pre-season, leaves Merseyside as a fan favorite despite his erratic form, with his final appearance likely being the Community Shield this weekend.
Sources: The Athletic, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Transfermarkt.