August 10, (THEWILL) — Al Hilal have finalised the signing of Darwin Núñez from Liverpool in a deal worth €53 million plus performance-related bonuses that could push the total value to €65 million. The Uruguay striker underwent his medical whilst Al Hilal were conducting their training camp in Germany, with the Saudi Pro League club confirming the transfer through their official social media channels.
The 26-year-old forward’s departure concludes a turbulent three-year spell at Anfield that began with his €75 million arrival from Benfica in 2022. Núñez struggled to establish himself under new manager Arne Slot this season, starting just eight English Premier League matches despite Liverpool’s title-winning campaign. His limited playing time prompted discussions with his representatives about seeking regular first-team football elsewhere.
Liverpool had previously rejected a €70 million approach from Al Nassr in January, prioritising their successful EPL title challenge over immediate transfer revenue. The Reds’ decision proved justified when Núñez contributed crucial goals during the run-in, though his sporadic appearances remained a source of frustration for both player and supporters throughout the campaign.
Milan and Napoli monitored Núñez’s situation during the summer window, but neither Serie A club could match Al Hilal’s financial package. The striker departs Liverpool having scored 40 goals in 143 appearances across all competitions, with his pace and physicality often creating problems for defenders despite inconsistent finishing in front of goal.
Liverpool have already strengthened their attacking options with Hugo Ekitike’s arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt, alongside summer signings Jérémie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen plus Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. The club had a £110 million bid for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak rejected but are expected to pursue additional forward reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
