Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is on the verge of completing a significant transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in a deal worth a reported €53 million. The move is a major development in what has been a hectic summer transfer window for the Premier League champions, who are in the midst of a significant squad overhaul under manager Arne Slot.
Nunez, 26, is expected to finalize personal terms and undergo a medical in the coming days, concluding a two-year spell at Anfield. He initially joined the Reds from Benfica in June 2022 for a fee that could have reached £85 million. Despite scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances, the Uruguayan forward struggled to consistently find his best form and only started eight Premier League matches during the team’s title-winning campaign last season.
The transfer provides Liverpool with a welcome financial boost as they continue their pursuit of marquee signings. The club has reportedly made Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak their top target, although an initial bid of £110 million was swiftly rejected. Newcastle are said to be holding out for a valuation of £150 million for the Swedish international.
Liverpool’s transfer business this summer has already been highly ambitious. The club has secured German playmaker Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a club-record £116 million and French forward Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal valued at £79 million, pushing their total transfer spending past the £250 million mark.
The departures from Anfield have been equally notable. Colombian winger Luis Díaz has completed a £65.5 million move to Bayern Munich, while young midfielder Tyler Morton has joined Lyon for £15 million. With interest also swirling around England U-21 star Harvey Elliott, more exits could be on the horizon.
For Nunez, the move to Al-Hilal offers a new chapter in his career. He will join a squad that includes several familiar faces from the Premier League, such as Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Yassine Bounou. Managed by former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi, Al-Hilal finished second in their league last season and are actively strengthening their team for the upcoming campaign.
Nunez’s Liverpool career, while punctuated by flashes of brilliance, never fully lived up to the expectations that came with his hefty price tag. His sale to Al-Hilal is a strategic move by Liverpool, allowing them to reinvest and further shape the squad for the challenges ahead, while Nunez himself embarks on a new challenge in the Saudi Pro League.
