Richard Hughes joined Liverpool in June 2024 from Bournemouth and his exit had been anticipated with his contract running until June 2027. He informed the club's ownership earlier this year of his desire to seek a fresh challenge.
During his tenure, Hughes oversaw significant transfer windows, including the arrivals of Bradley Barcola, as well as multi-million pound deals for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. He was also instrumental in appointing Arne Slot, who won the Premier League title in his first season.
Following a fifth-place finish last season, Slot was replaced by Andoni Iraola. FSG president Mike Gordon expressed respect for Hughes' life choices and wished him well in his upcoming venture at Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi, have heavily invested in Premier League talent, including signing Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal. Liverpool are now on the hunt for their fifth sporting director since 2022 following a summer of major structural changes.
