Richard Hughes has stepped down as Liverpool’s sporting director after a two-year tenure marked by significant managerial changes and an impressive transfer budget of approximately £670m on new players.

Hughes’ departure, which is anticipated to lead him to the Saudi Pro-League club Al Hilal, follows the announcement of Michael Edwards, CEO of Football at Fenway Sports Group, also leaving amid ongoing boardroom changes at Anfield. Earlier this year, Hughes indicated his desire to depart, but it was agreed he would stay through the transfer window, crucially overseeing the signing of Bradley Barcola for an initial £106m.

Liverpool prioritized retaining Hughes to secure key targets, particularly Barcola, due to his strong relationship with Andoni Iraola, who he appointed at both Bournemouth and Liverpool. The club has initiated a search for Hughes’ successor, led by FSG president Mike Gordon.

In the interim, Liverpool intends to delegate Hughes’ responsibilities among senior staff, including:

• Julian Ward, FSG technical director
• Pedro Marques, FSG director of football development
• David Woodfine, assistant sporting director
• Barry Hunter, chief scout
• Andoni Iraola, new head coach

Hughes joined Liverpool in 2024 from Bournemouth and played a pivotal role in hiring Arne Slot as the replacement for Jurgen Klopp. Slot led the team to a Premier League title in his first season, but Hughes subsequently dismissed him after a fifth-place finish, bringing in Iraola.

During his time, Hughes oversaw record spending, including £450m in the summer 2025 window, with standout signings like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. The recent acquisition of Barcola pushed Liverpool’s total transfer expenditure under Hughes to around £670m. He is expected to reunite with his former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis at Al Hilal, though Liverpool is confident he did not engage with the Saudi club prior to his exit.