FOOTBALL – LIVERPOOL’S Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez has joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal from the Premier League champions on a three-year deal, both clubs said yesterday.
Financial details of the transfer were not revealed but British media reported that the Saudis paid 53 million euros ($61.69m) to the Anfield outfit for the 26-year-old.
“Al Hilal Club Company is pleased to announce the signing of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez from Liverpool FC on a three-year contract,” the Saudi club said on their website.
“Nunez has just joined the squad during the current pre-season training camp in Germany,” Al Hilal added.
Nunez joined Liverpool in June 2022 from Benfica for an initial fee of 75m euros but struggled for consistency, with 40 goals and 26 assists in 143 games in all competitions.
The striker found himself on the fringes of the first team during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season, starting only eight league matches and netting five times.
His departure will help finance Liverpool’s close-season outlay of almost £300m so far.
They have already signed Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a club-record fee of up to £116m and French forward Hugo Ekitike for 69m plus add-ons.
Al Hilal, under former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi, became the first Asian club to defeat a Premier League side in an official match when they beat Manchester City at the Club World Cup last month.
Inzaghi’s new side are aiming to secure a record-extending 20th league title this season, having finished second in the Saudi Pro League last term. Their other high-profile signing of the transfer window was Theo Hernandez from AC Milan.
Meanwhile, Liverpool had a £110m bid for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle and are reluctant to make a second offer for the Sweden international.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said the striker, who missed their pre-season tour of Asia with a minor thigh injury and who has not featured in any of their summer friendlies, will sit out his club’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Howe said yesterday that he is unsure whether Isak will stay, but that it is out of his hands, explaining: “He’s contracted to us. He’s our player. The club make the decision on his future. I don’t know what that will be. Of course, I have a preferred outcome. I want the best and strongest squad possible, but also I want players that really want to play for this club.”
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