Liverpool headed into the summer transfer window expecting to sell Darwin Nuñez following a first season under manager Arne Slot where the Uruguayan striker had regressed. With the player turning 26 over the summer, it seemed as though everyone was in agreement it was time to move on for everybody’s sake.
Even the start of pre-season and the approach of the 2025-26 campaign, which kicks off for the Reds on Sunday against Crystal Palace in the Community Shied, didn’t much change the narrative. Still, with the likes of Napoli and Atletico Madrid bowing out of the running to sign him due to costs, there was a growing question of where he could viably end up.
The answer, it always seemed fairly obvious, was the Saudi Pro League. And now, it appears his future is settled following the emergence of reliable reports claiming Al Hilal has today agreed a base €53M (£46M) fee, plus unspecified add-ons, with Liverpool and that the player himself is receptive to their approach.
Previous talk of a €70M (£61M) valuation appears to have been wide of the mark—or, at the very least, it appears Liverpool have come down from it in order to complete the sale. Regardless, that will raise eyebrows given it’s the kind of number many believed Liverpool would have to come down to if Darwin pushed to stay in Europe with a club like Napoli or Atleti.
Despite Nuñez’ struggles this past season, for a striker of his age and talent in the current market, €53M hardly seems egregious as the base fee to build a deal around. In fact, it seems quite reasonable. If a European club couldn’t reach it, then, that hardly seems a case of Liverpool sticking to an unreasonable valuation of the player.
For the player, too, perhaps given his age there will be hope that a season or two in the Saudi Pro League might provide a platform for him to eventually return to the major European leagues. Meanwhile, his departure makes signing another forward imperative for Liverpool, with Alexander Isak the priority but Newcastle struggling to sign a replacement.