Darwin Nunez has become the latest high-profile name to swap European football for Saudi Arabia, as he joins Al-Hilal in a €53 million move from Liverpool. The Uruguay international’s time at Anfield was anything but smooth, and with Liverpool looking to reshape their attacking line-up, the move brings an end to a two-year rollercoaster in Merseyside. Al-Hilal, one of the most dominant sides in Saudi football, have once again flexed its financial muscle by acquiring a forward with proven top-level pedigree. Nunez hopes that his time in the Saudi Pro League will be much smoother than his time in the English Premier League. This article talks about Darwin Nunez deciding to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Credit: Sky Sports
Nunez arrived at Liverpool in the summer of 2022 from Benfica, in a deal that could have risen to £85 million including add-ons. Expectations were sky-high. The club saw him as the long-term successor to Roberto Firmino, a striker who would lead the next generation of Liverpool’s attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz. However, Nunez struggled to find consistency both in front of the goal and in terms of overall performance. While his energy and work rate were never in doubt, his decision-making, first touch, and finishing came under increasing scrutiny. Despite flashes of brilliance, including vital goals in the Premier League and UEFA competitions, Nunez never fully settled into Liverpool’s tactical setup and never felt at home.
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Liverpool’s decision to sell Nunez came amidst their decision to sign some of the most talented strikers in the world. The Merseyside club has already acted swiftly to plug the Nunez-shaped hole in their squad. French forward Hugo Ekitike, once considered a top prospect at Paris Saint-Germain, has been signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for a massive transfer fee of €80 Million. Ekitike has not been playing at the highest level consistently, and he might now settle in well in the English Premier League, but Liverpool views Ekitike as a high-potential transfer. He has already shown he is incredibly talented, and it will not be too surprising if he ends up becoming one of the best strikers in the world.
🚨🇸🇦 BREAKING: Darwin Núñez to Al Hilal, here we go! Verbal agreement has been completed between all parties.
€53m plus add-ons to Liverpool as revealed today, 3 year deal for Núñez.
Núñez said yes and Inzaghi only wanted him. Medical next.
Exclusive story, confirmed. ✅🇺🇾 pic.twitter.com/hXKfidPdgB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 6, 2025
Liverpool have also been linked heavily with Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, a striker who has attracted admiration across the Premier League. Isak’s ability to play across the front three, combined with his clinical finishing and intelligent link-up play, makes him an ideal profile for the kind of system Arne Slot might look to implement. However, Newcastle United do not intend to sell Isak, so Liverpool may not be able to sign him. For Al-Hilal, the acquisition of Darwin Nunez is a bold move that signals their continued ambition. The addition of Nunez brings a different dynamic to their attack; he’s younger than most of their recent signings, has a European pedigree, and still has his best years ahead of him.
Al-Hilal has managed to sign a marquee forward to lead their line, while Liverpool clears the decks for a more balanced and tactically refined attack. Whether Nunez thrives in Saudi Arabia or not, the move reflects the changing landscape of global football, where big money, bold moves, and unpredictable transfers are the new normal. While Nunez was not doing exceptionally well at Liverpool, the youngster was still regarded as a brilliant attacking threat with immense potential, and barely anyone expected him to join Al-Hilal. However, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have now proved that it can sign not just players who are looking to retire but can also attract top European talents to move to the Saudi Pro League.
For more news articles and informative updates on Darwin Nunez, Liverpool, and Al-Hilal as well as other football and cricket updates, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com.
Guransh Machra is a sportswriter at Gutshot Magazine. He covers football news from local leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues like the Premier League. He follows various sports like Football, Cricket, Formula 1, and Tennis. Apart from sports, Guransh is also enthusiastic about reading and gaming.
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