Liverpool Sell Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal in €53m Deal
Liverpool have confirmed the sale of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, with the move potentially paving the way for the Premier League champions to reignite their pursuit of Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak.
Nunez, 26, joined Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 for an initial €75 million (£65 million) but failed to fully justify his price tag, scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances.
He fell down the pecking order under both former manager Jürgen Klopp and current boss Arne Slot.
Al-Hilal announced the signing on Saturday, confirming the forward had agreed to a three-year contract. British media reports suggest the Saudi club will pay an initial €53 million for the striker.
“Al-Hilal Club Company is pleased to announce the signing of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool FC on a three-year contract,” the Saudi outfit said in a statement.
Nunez’s chances of regular football at Anfield had diminished further following Liverpool’s €300 million summer spending spree, which brought in forwards Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, along with full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.
The sale boosts Liverpool’s transfer revenue this window to nearly €200 million, following the exits of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Tyler Morton. The windfall could help finance a record-breaking bid for Isak, with speculation mounting over a possible approach.
At Al-Hilal, Nunez joins a star-studded squad coached by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi. The team includes Portuguese internationals Rúben Neves and João Cancelo, Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, and Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Saudi side made headlines last season after stunning Manchester City to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.
