Richard Hughes has stepped down as Liverpool’s sporting director after a two-year reign in which he appointed two managers and the club spent more than £100m on three different players and around £670m in total.
The departure of the Scot, who is expected to join Saudi Pro-League club Al Hilal, follows the decision of Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of Football, to leave as the upheaval in the boardroom at Anfield continues.
Hughes had told Liverpool he wanted to leave earlier in the year but it was agreed he would remain in his position for the rest of the transfer window, in which Bradley Barcola was bought for an initial £106m.
Liverpool feared missing out on key targets, particularly Barcola, if Hughes left earlier while his relationship with Andoni Iraola, who he hired first at Bournemouth and then on Merseyside, was seen as crucial this summer. Liverpool have begun their search for Hughes’ successor, which is being led by FSG president Mike Gordon.
In the short term, Liverpool believe the rest of Hughes’ duties can be covered by other senior figures, including FSG technical director Julian Ward, FSG director of football development Pedro Marques, assistant sporting director David Woodfine, chief scout Barry Hunter and new head coach Iraola.
Hughes joined Liverpool in 2024 from Bournemouth and was instrumental in choosing Arne Slot as the replacement for the departing Jurgen Klopp. The Dutchman won the Premier League title in their first season at Anfield but Hughes then took the decision to sack Slot a year later, when Liverpool only finished fifth, and bring in Iraola.
Hughes oversaw a period of heavy spending at Anfield, including the record outlay of around £450m in the summer 2025 window when Florian Wirtz became Liverpool’s first £100m signing and then Alexander Isak joined for a British record of £125m. The arrival of Barcola this week took Liverpool’s transfer spending during Hughes’ time at Anfield to around £670m.
Hughes is likely to link up with his former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis at Al Hilal but Liverpool are confident he has not been working for the Saudi club before leaving.
