Darwin Núñez has left Liverpool. The Uruguayan striker completed a permanent transfer to Al-Hilal in a deal confirmed by Liverpool, ending a three-year spell at Anfield. The reported fee was €53 million, roughly £46.3 million or $62 million.
Núñez arrived from Benfica in 2022 and departed with 40 goals in 143 appearances across all competitions. His time at Liverpool produced memorable moments, but a regular starting role never became fully settled.
The move, however, was only the start of a more complicated story. The Athletic later reported that Núñez had been left out of Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad because of foreign-player registration limits. That decision was quickly linked by other outlets to Liverpool’s long-standing interest in Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
Has Darwin Nunez Left Liverpool? Confirmed Transfer Status
Yes. Liverpool confirmed that Núñez had completed a permanent transfer to Al-Hilal on a three-year contract. The club’s website announced, “Darwin Nunez completes permanent transfer to Al-Hilal.”
ESPN reported that the fee was €53 million, about £46.3 million or $62 million, and noted the move was completed subject to international clearance. BBC Sport also confirmed the €53 million fee. The agreement was structured as a permanent sale, not a loan, with the contract running for three years.
At a glance
- Núñez has left Liverpool in a permanent transfer to Al-Hilal, with the fee reported at €53 million.
- He was later excluded from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad under the league’s foreign-player registration limits.
- The squad decision was reported as a factor that could help Liverpool make a new bid for Alexander Isak.
- Karim Benzema was reported to have effectively taken the place Núñez might otherwise have held.
Key insights
- Núñez spent three seasons at Liverpool after joining from Benfica in 2022.
- He scored 40 goals in 143 appearances across all competitions.
- Liverpool confirmed the Al-Hilal deal as a permanent transfer, not a loan.
- The reported €53 million fee was repeated across several outlets, including ESPN and BBC Sport.
- The Athletic reported that Núñez could still be eligible for the AFC Champions League.
- The same report said Karim Benzema effectively took the slot Núñez might otherwise have occupied.
- Ahram Online linked the squad decision to Liverpool’s ability to pursue Alexander Isak.
The core facts and reported figures are summarized below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro |
| Date of birth | 16 June 1999 |
| Position | Striker |
| Joined Liverpool | 2022, from Benfica |
| Liverpool appearances | 143 |
| Liverpool goals | 40 |
| Move to Al-Hilal | Permanent transfer, three-year contract |
| Reported transfer fee | €53 million (about £46.3m / $62m) |
| Initial Liverpool fee | €75 million, up to €100 million with add-ons |
| Squad status at Al-Hilal | Omitted from Saudi Pro League squad (reported) |
| Main replacement link | Alexander Isak (Newcastle United) |
Why Was Darwin Nunez Dropped From the Al-Hilal Squad?
The Athletic reported that Núñez was omitted from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad. The report, titled “Darwin Nunez omitted from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad amid foreign-player registration limits,” explained the league rule behind the decision.
What Are the Saudi Pro League Foreign-Player Limits?
Saudi clubs may register only eight foreign players born before 2003 in their 25-man squads. Núñez, born in 1999, occupied one of those restricted slots. The Athletic added that he could still be eligible for the AFC Champions League even though he was left off the domestic list.
The eight-player limit for foreign players born before 2003 is the rule cited in reports about Núñez’s omission. For a club like Al-Hilal, a crowded squad with high-profile names means some players will miss out on league registration.
Did Karim Benzema Replace Nunez at Al-Hilal?
Reporting around the squad decision said Karim Benzema effectively took the place Núñez might otherwise have occupied. Al-Hilal has not officially confirmed that explanation, and the club has not commented directly on Núñez’s omission.
Where Is Darwin Nunez Playing Now?
Núñez is under contract at Al-Hilal. Later reporting, however, describes his time in Riyadh as difficult, and some stories say he subsequently moved on loan to Al-Diriyah. That development is separate from the original Liverpool-to-Al-Hilal transfer.
Is Alexander Isak Replacing Darwin Nunez at Liverpool?
No move has been confirmed. Ahram Online reported that Al-Hilal’s decision to exclude Núñez was a factor that could help Liverpool make a new bid for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. The reporting links Núñez’s departure and his subsequent squad non-registration to Liverpool’s ability to try again for Isak.
The reasoning, according to the same reporting, is that Liverpool no longer needs several senior forward options tied up. That gives Arne Slot more flexibility to pursue a striker widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s most complete forwards.
What Has Arne Slot Said?
Slot confirmed Núñez’s departure from Liverpool but declined to comment on the Isak links, according to the Standard. No direct public comment from Slot on a potential Isak bid has been reported.
Who Is Replacing Darwin Nunez at Liverpool?
No official replacement has been announced. Alexander Isak is the name most strongly linked in the available reporting, but a formal agreement has not been confirmed. Until a club announcement is made, the question remains open.
The reported logic runs in a straight line: Núñez left Liverpool, Al-Hilal left Núñez out of its league squad, and that chain of events was interpreted as giving Liverpool more room to pursue Isak.
Why Is Darwin Nunez Leaving Liverpool? Full Background
Núñez signed for Liverpool from Benfica in 2022. Over three seasons he scored 40 goals in 143 appearances and won the 2024 Carabao Cup and Community Shield. He produced memorable moments in a Liverpool shirt but never fully stabilized his position in the starting lineup.
How Many Goals Did Nunez Score for Liverpool?
Forty goals in 143 appearances across all competitions. Sky Sports reported those figures when the deal to sell Núñez to Al-Hilal was being finalized.
When Did Nunez Join Liverpool?
Núñez joined in June 2022, according to the transfer timeline. The initial fee paid to Benfica was reported at €75 million, with add-ons potentially taking the total to €100 million.
Why Did Nunez’s Liverpool Career End?
Liverpool confirmed the sale to Al-Hilal, and Arne Slot confirmed that Núñez was leaving. Official statements did not explain the reasoning in detail. The reporting around the move points to a reshaping of Liverpool’s attack under Slot, with Núñez’s departure freeing space for a new forward.
Not all sources agree on when the transfer happened. Al Jazeera reported the signing on 9 August 2025, while Transfermarkt lists the move date as 22 August 2026. The inconsistency runs across otherwise credible coverage.
Darwin Nunez Transfer: Key Dates and Timeline
The dates below follow the most commonly reported sequence, but sources disagree on when the Al-Hilal move was completed.
- : Núñez signs for Liverpool from Benfica.
- : Núñez plays three seasons at Liverpool, scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances. Liverpool win the Carabao Cup and Community Shield in 2024.
- as reported by Al Jazeera: Al-Hilal announce the signing of Núñez from Liverpool.
- as reported by The Athletic: Núñez is excluded from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad.
- per Transfermarkt: some transfer records list this as the move date, a discrepancy with the August 2025 reporting.
- Later reporting: Núñez’s time at Al-Hilal is described as difficult, with a subsequent loan to Al-Diriyah mentioned by the BBC.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?
Separating solid facts from speculation is useful here.
| Established information | Information still unclear |
|---|---|
| Núñez is no longer a Liverpool player; the club confirmed the permanent transfer. | The exact date of the move, with sources pointing to summer 2025 or August 2026. |
| Al-Hilal signed Núñez on a three-year contract. | The precise financial details beyond the reported €53 million fee. |
| Núñez was omitted from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad because of foreign-player registration limits. | Whether that exclusion is temporary or permanent. |
| The Athletic reported Núñez could still be eligible for the AFC Champions League. | Whether Karim Benzema was the direct cause of the exclusion; this is not officially confirmed. |
| Arne Slot confirmed Núñez’s departure from Liverpool. | Whether Liverpool will complete a move for Alexander Isak. |
| Later reporting describes Núñez’s time at Al-Hilal as difficult. | The status and duration of the reported loan to Al-Diriyah. |
What Does the Nunez Saga Say About the Saudi League and Liverpool’s Rebuild?
The story shows how quickly squad economics can change in the Saudi Pro League. Clubs there can sign established international players, but strict foreign-player limits force difficult choices. In Núñez’s case, a player switched clubs and then lost his league registration within months of arriving.
For Liverpool, the sale was about squad structure as much as money. Núñez’s departure — and his subsequent non-registration in Riyadh — was reported as clearing the way for a fresh attempt at Isak. That attempt has not been confirmed.
For Núñez, the aftermath has been difficult. Goal reported that he opened up about his Al-Hilal experience after ending a goal drought. The BBC later reported a loan move to Al-Diriyah.
Which Sources Are Reporting on the Darwin Nunez Transfer?
- Liverpool FC: confirmed the permanent transfer, the three-year contract and Núñez’s record of 40 goals in 143 appearances.
- ESPN: reported the €53 million fee and noted the move was completed subject to international clearance.
- BBC Sport: reported the €53 million fee and later covered Núñez’s difficult spell at Al-Hilal.
- Sky Sports: reported the transfer as Liverpool sold the striker to the Saudi Pro League club.
- Al Jazeera: reported that Al-Hilal signed Núñez from Liverpool in August 2025.
- The Athletic: reported the squad omission and the foreign-player registration rule.
- Ahram Online: linked the squad decision to a possible new Liverpool bid for Alexander Isak.
I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Darwin Núñez, on his Al-Hilal experience, as reported by Goal
Where Does the Darwin Nunez Transfer Saga Stand Now?
Núñez has left Liverpool for Al-Hilal, but his place in the Saudi club’s league squad is already in question. Liverpool are reported to be weighing up another move for Alexander Isak, although nothing has been finalized. The coming weeks will clarify whether Núñez’s exclusion is temporary and whether Liverpool’s search for a new forward leads to Isak.
What Else Should You Know About the Darwin Nunez Transfer?
Is Darwin Nunez on loan at Al-Hilal?
No. Liverpool confirmed the move as a permanent transfer, and Al-Hilal signed him on a three-year contract.
Did Karim Benzema replace Darwin Nunez at Al-Hilal?
Reports said Benzema effectively took the place Núñez might otherwise have occupied in the league squad. Al-Hilal has not officially confirmed that explanation.
How many goals did Darwin Nunez score for Liverpool?
He scored 40 goals in 143 appearances across all competitions during his three seasons at the club.
What was the transfer fee for Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal?
Reports put the fee at €53 million, equivalent to roughly £46.3 million or $62 million.
Will Darwin Nunez return to Liverpool?
Nothing suggests a return. His contractual future lies with Al-Hilal, with later reporting mentioning a loan to Al-Diriyah.
Did Darwin Nunez send a message to Ronald Araujo?
Yes. Reports said he publicly welcomed the new Liverpool signing on social media, indicating he still had friendly ties with the club.
Does the Nunez transfer mean Isak is coming to Liverpool?
Not necessarily. The move was described as a factor that could help Liverpool make a new bid for Alexander Isak, but no agreement has been confirmed.
Is Darwin Nunez eligible for the AFC Champions League?
The Athletic reported that he could still be eligible for the AFC Champions League despite being left out of Al-Hilal’s domestic squad.
Oliver Arthur Morgan Harrison is a staff writer for StoryShift.uk, covering UK news, culture, politics and technology. He works under Editor-in-Chief Maarika Tamm and UK Managing Editor Oliver Grant, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.