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🇳🇴 Norway /Sports

Liverpool confirms: sporting director Richard Hughes is leaving

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Liverpool confirmed that sporting director Richard Hughes will leave the club after two years and move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
  • Hughes joined Liverpool alongside former head coach Arne Slot in 2024 and oversaw a period that included a Premier League title and major transfer records.
  • His departure follows Slot’s dismissal and the exit of football chief Michael Edwards during a turbulent summer at Anfield.

Richard Hughes is leaving Liverpool after only two years at Anfield, ending a brief tenure that included a Premier League title and record-breaking transfers.

Hughes joined the club in 2024 alongside then-manager Arne Slot and reportedly played a central role in bringing the Dutch coach to Liverpool. During his time as sporting director, Liverpool won the 2024/25 Premier League season and set transfer records for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. The club also spent heavily to sign Bradley Barcola this summer.

Liverpool said Hughes will join Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, where he will reunite with former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis.

First and foremost, I want to reiterate what I said when I arrived here: it has been a great source of pride to have the opportunity to serve this incredible and unique institution.

· Richard HughesHughes reflected on his departure from Liverpool.

In a statement, Hughes said: “First and foremost, I want to reiterate what I said when I arrived here: it has been a great source of pride to have the opportunity to serve this incredible and unique institution.”

FSG president Mike Gordon thanked Hughes for his work, saying: “Richard joined us at the start of a period of change, and took on that responsibility by leading our football department.” Hughes’s exit is the latest change in a turbulent summer. Slot was dismissed as head coach in June and replaced by Andoni Iraola, while FSG football chief Michael Edwards also left his position.

Richard joined us at the start of a period of change, and took on that responsibility by leading our football department.

· Mike GordonThe FSG president thanked Hughes for his work at Liverpool.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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