Darwin Núñez joins Saudi side Al Hilal — the deal that shifts the summer
In one of the headline moves of the 2025 summer window, Darwin Núñez joins Saudi side Al Hilal in a transfer that closes a three-year chapter at Liverpool and opens a new, high-stakes project in Riyadh. The move, confirmed by both clubs, sees Núñez leave Europe’s top tier for the Saudi Pro League at a moment when the kingdom continues to reshape the global football map. Liverpool FCalhilal.com
To state it plainly: Darwin Nunez joins Saudi side Al Hilal on a multi-year deal that Al Hilal and Liverpool have both announced. The Peruvian-born (Uruguayan international) forward signed terms that were reported across major outlets, and he has already been integrated into Al Hilal’s pre-season set-up. The transfer was officially communicated by Al Hilal and Liverpool’s club statements, with international clearance noted as the final administrative step. Liverpool FCalhilal.com
The numbers (as reported): clubs and media point to an initial fee in the region of €53m (approximately £46.2m) plus add-ons — a figure various outlets have rounded or adjusted slightly but that gives a clear sense of the valuation. The deal length commonly reported is three years, taking Núñez to mid-2028 under contract with the Saudi giants. Those are the headline financials that put this transfer firmly into the six-to-seven-figure club of modern big-money moves. Sky SportsReuters
Importance for Al Hilal
Al Hilal have become architects of a squad that mixes regional identity with global star power; signing Núñez is another statement in that strategy. Darwin Nunez joins Saudi side Al Hilal as a striker expected to spearhead an attack that already includes high-profile names and continental experience. With Simone Inzaghi reportedly at the helm of first-team planning, Núñez arrives in a team that wants domestic silverware and deeper runs in Asian competitions and the Club World Cup ambitions. Al Hilal’s official release underlined how they see the Uruguayan as a key acquisition. alhilal.comSaudi Professional League Association
What Liverpool lose — and what they gain
From Liverpool’s point of view, this is a pragmatic sale for a player who arrived in 2022 with big expectations. Darwin Nunez joins Saudi side Al Hilal after scoring 40 goals in 143 appearances for the Reds — a tally that includes important contributions to a Premier League title-winning season but also periods of inconsistency that saw his role fluctuate. The sale frees up the club’s squad planning and transfer war chest as Liverpool continue to explore targets to lead their line. The club’s official confirmation summarised Núñez’s Anfield record and thanked him for his service. Liverpool FCReuters
How the fit looks on paper
Tactically, Darwin Nunez joins Saudi side Al Hilal as a frontman with pace, power and directness — attributes that have long made him a handful for defenders. In a league increasingly populated by elite talent, Núñez’s task will be to adapt his movement and finishing to a different style of play and to shoulder goal-scoring expectations. Al Hilal’s system, with quality supply from wide and creative midfielders, should give him opportunities to produce numbers. Whether rhythm and consistent minutes unlock Núñez’s best form is the big, immediate question. Saudi Professional League AssociationAl Jazeera
Contractual and squad details
Reports consistently mention a three-year contract for Núñez. Media outlets in the UK, Spain and the Middle East have filled in the likely financial contours — not always identically, but all pointing to a lucrative package for the player and a solid fee for Liverpool. The move also fits Al Hilal’s summer recruitment drive, which has included other headline names as the club aims to maintain domestic dominance and raise their continental profile. Cadena SERSky Sports
Immediate reaction and context
Fans and pundits offered mixed reactions. Liverpool supporters lamented the departure of a mercurial talent whose raw attributes promised more than his final output sometimes showed. Al Hilal fans welcomed a forward who can change games on the counter or with creative link play. The broader context is the continuing migration of top players to the Saudi Pro League — a trend that shows no sign of slowing and that now includes players still in their mid-20s and prime years. Al JazeeraArab News
What comes next
For Núñez, the immediate task is to translate pre-season form into competitive returns. For Al Hilal, the job is to integrate a high-profile striker into a team already built for success and expectation. For Liverpool, the transfer market stays open: funds and squad balance could prompt further summer moves. One certainty: when the season begins, every starter who faces Al Hilal will be preparing for a forward who has changed his stage but whose headline — Darwin Nunez joins Saudi side Al Hilal — now resonates across continents. Liverpool FCSky Sports
If you want to read the official statements and detailed coverage directly, here are the primary sources I used for this piece:
Liverpool FC confirmation of the transfer. Liverpool FC
Al Hilal’s official announcement. alhilal.com
Reuters’ reporting on the transfer and background. Reuters
Sky Sports’ breakdown of the fee and structure. Sky Sports
Al Jazeera’s coverage for context and quotes. Al Jazeera
— Final note from the press box: Darwin Nunez joins Saudi side Al Hilal is a sentence that will be written often this season, but the real story will be written in goals, minutes and match-defining moments. If Núñez hits his stride, this transfer will be remembered as shrewd by Al Hilal and as a reset for a player still only in his mid-20s. Saudi Professional League AssociationReuters