Richard Hughes Resigns as Liverpool Sporting Director to Join Al Hilal

Richard Hughes has resigned from his role as sporting director at Liverpool and is set to join Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.

Hughes, who joined Liverpool in June 2024 from Bournemouth, had his departure anticipated due to his contract expiring in June 2027. During his time, he managed a transfer budget of approximately £200 million, which included the acquisition of Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain.

At Liverpool, Hughes played a key role in appointing Arne Slot as manager, who led the team to a Premier League title in his first season. However, after a disappointing fifth-place finish last season, Slot was replaced by Andoni Iraola. Liverpool's president, Mike Gordon, acknowledged Hughes's contributions during a transitional period for the club and expressed respect for his decision to move on.