Liverpool forward Darwin Núñez is set to join Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal after the clubs agreed on a €53 million deal plus potential add-ons. The 26-year-old Uruguay international is now in advanced discussions to finalise personal terms.
Núñez had already expressed interest in a move to Saudi Arabia back in January when Liverpool rejected a €70 million approach from Al Nassr to focus on their Premier League title challenge. Despite playing a supporting role in that successful campaign, he made only eight league starts and often struggled to adapt to new manager Arne Slot’s tactical system.
Liverpool had hoped to recover at least €70 million for the striker who arrived from Benfica in 2022 in a deal worth an initial €76 million with add-ons pushing the value close to €100 million. That fee remains the highest in the club’s history. Although Núñez showed promise and was a popular figure among supporters, he never quite met expectations under either Slot or Jürgen Klopp.
With his departure now imminent, Liverpool are set to accelerate plans to bring in a top-tier attacking replacement. Their €129 million bid for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak remains under consideration and he is viewed as the primary target should Núñez complete his move.
The need for attacking reinforcements has grown more urgent following the tragic death of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota earlier this summer. Combined with the recent exit of Luis Díaz, Liverpool’s attacking depth has taken a significant hit.
So far this summer, the Merseyside club have spent close to €300 million on new signings, including add-ons. If the Núñez deal is finalised, their total player sales income since the summer of 2024 will rise to approximately €251 million. Further exits are still possible, with Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa both reportedly available before the window closes on 1 September.
