Darwin Núñez has completed a permanent transfer from Liverpool, three years after his arrival at the club.
The striker has signed for Al-Hilal in a deal reportedly worth an initial £46 million, pending international clearance.
Núñez captured the imagination of Liverpool supporters when he joined from Benfica in 2022 for a club-record fee of £85 million. His time at Anfield saw moments of promise and important contributions, including helping the Reds secure Premier League and Carabao Cup.
However, ultimately it was a mixed three-year spell on Merseyside for the Uruguayan international and his influence diminished last season, scoring just seven goals in 47 games and struggling to cement a starting role under Arne Slot.
After undergoing a medical at their training camp in Germany on Friday, Nunez’s switch to Al-Hilal is now official.
Liverpool had been fielding interest in the 26-year-old throughout the summer, with Serie A champions Napoli and AC Milan also having made enquiries. Napoli submitted a bid earlier in the window, but their offer was significantly below Liverpool’s valuation and talks quickly broke down, and the Italian club shifted focus to targets.
Al-Hilal, however, maintained their interest and have now confirmed of securing the 26-year-old in a deal worth a reported €53 million (£46.25 million) plus add-ons, as confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Premier League champions had been seeking a fee closer to the £61 million mark, which would represent a significant recoup the fee paid to Benfica in the summer of 2022.
Liverpool FC can confirm Darwin Nunez has completed a permanent transfer to Al-Hilal, subject to international clearance.
Everybody at the club would like to thank Darwin for his contributions and wish him and his family all the best for the future.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 9, 2025
The forward was absent for the Reds’ friendly against AC Milan in Hong Kong due to a minor injury, but returned to action days later in the 3-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan and also scored in Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao earlier this week.
The Uruguayan celebrated by placing a hand over the Liverpool crest on his shirt, a gesture some viewed as a farewell message. His muted reaction upon being substituted further fuelled rumours that his time on Merseyside would be coming to an end.
Since joining under former manager Jurgen Klopp three summers ago, Núñez had registered 40 goals in 143 appearances across all competitions. While his raw athleticism and relentless energy made him a unique presence in the frontline, consistency in front of goal had been a lingering issue.
Despite these struggles, he had shown flashes of brilliance during Liverpool’s current pre-season campaign, scoring five goals in four outings including a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors match against Stoke City. His sharpness in pre-season only added to the sense of disappointment among supporters who had hoped the Uruguayan would finally turn a corner.
Now Núñez has become the latest high-profile exit in what has been a transformative summer for Liverpool’s attack.
Liverpool are now exploring the market for another attacker and after the tragic loss of Diogo Jota earlier in the summer, that would leave Arne Slot with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and £79 million signing Hugo Ekitike as his primary attacking options.
