Darwin Núñez Seals Liverpool Exit with Move to Al-Hilal

Darwin Núñez’s time at Liverpool has come to an end, with the Uruguayan forward joining Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal on a three-year deal worth €53m (£46.3m), Sport360NG reports.

The 26-year-old leaves Anfield just over two years after arriving from Benfica for an initial £64m, a move that carried huge expectations. While he netted 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds, he struggled to secure a regular starting place, beginning only eight league matches in last season’s Premier League title-winning campaign.

Liverpool released a statement thanking Núñez for his service and wishing him and his family well. The striker has already linked up with Al-Hilal’s pre-season training camp in Germany. His departure could influence Liverpool’s ongoing pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, after the Magpies rejected an opening bid of £110m.

Núñez leaves with a mix of highlights and frustration. Supporters will remember his late double to seal a 2-1 win at Newcastle in August 2023, a 99th-minute winner against Nottingham Forest in March 2024, and two stoppage-time goals versus Brentford in January. However, inconsistency and missed chances often overshadowed his impact.

Nicknamed “Captain Chaos” by Jamie Carragher, Núñez’s three seasons at Liverpool saw fluctuating fortunes. He scored 15 goals in his debut campaign and 18 in his second, but after Arne Slot replaced Jürgen Klopp in 2024, his role diminished. Last season he managed just seven goals in 47 appearances, with nearly half of his Premier League outings coming from the bench.

His arrival in 2022 followed a prolific 34-goal season for Benfica, but Núñez never fully replicated that form in England. Klopp had called him a “work in progress,” though moments of brilliance hinted at untapped potential. Slot’s criticism of his work-rate after a costly miss against Aston Villa in February 2025 further signalled that his Liverpool career was nearing its end.

Statistically, Núñez struggled in front of goal. His 11.1% shot conversion rate was the lowest among Liverpool’s forwards over the past three seasons, and his -8.5 expected goals underperformance was the worst in the squad. Of Premier League players with the most attempts since 2022, he had the second-lowest conversion rate and the poorest return on big chances.

Yet despite the wastefulness, he leaves as a Premier League winner and a player capable of delivering drama. No one scored more 90th-minute winners in the competition than Núñez since 2022, and his relentless energy and emotion earned admiration from sections of the fanbase.

Liverpool have already reinvested heavily this summer, bringing in Hugo Ekitike for £79m and club-record signing Florian Wirtz for £116m. For many, Núñez’s exit represents a clean break that could open the door to landing a top-tier striker such as Isak.

As Liverpool fan writer Jordan Chamberlain put it: “If Núñez had the composure to match his physical attributes, we’d be talking about the best striker in the world. But he still chased every lost cause and wore his heart on his sleeve. Now, moving to Saudi Arabia feels like the right decision for all involved.”