40 goals in 143 appearances
Darwin Núñez is set to finalize his departure from Liverpool following an agreement with Al-Hilal for the Uruguayan striker. The two clubs have settled on an initial fee of €53 million, with additional performance-related bonuses likely to be added. Núñez is expected to travel to the Middle East to sign a three-year contract. The 26-year-old appeared to bid farewell to Anfield supporters after their friendly match against Athletic Club on Monday.
Núñez has demonstrated impressive form during the pre-season, netting five goals in four matches. However, his overall performances have been inconsistent since joining Liverpool for €85 million from Benfica in 2022. In his 143 appearances for the club, he has scored 40 goals and provided 26 assists. Although he might have played his final game for Liverpool, there are suggestions he could give a proper farewell during the Community Shield match at Wembley on Sunday. Despite his ups and downs, Núñez remains a beloved figure among fans and teammates, and Liverpool is set to gain a significant return for the Uruguayan international.
Darwin Núñez Joins Liverpool’s List of Major Sales
Building on their Premier League success, Liverpool has continued to strengthen their squad during the summer transfer window. High-profile signings including Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitiké have contributed to a total spend of €308 million. Liverpool currently leads in spending this window but has also recouped €143 million in player sales, ranking third among all clubs. As illustrated in the graphic below, Núñez is poised to become Liverpool’s sixth-largest sale upon completing his transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
Additionally, Núñez could ascend to the fourth spot among Liverpool’s largest sales if easily achievable add-ons bring the total to €65 million. Fernando Torres’ €58.5 million transfer to Chelsea in 2010 and Raheem Sterling’s €63.7 million move to Manchester City in 2015 currently hold the fifth and fourth positions, respectively, but Núñez’s final transfer fee is expected to surpass both. Notably, three of Liverpool’s top ten largest sales will have occurred this summer, following Luis Díaz’s €75 million transfer to Bayern Munich and Jarrell Quansah’s €35 million move to Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool’s substantial spending has faced scrutiny, but once Núñez’s move is finalized, Arne Slot’s net expenditure will drop to €112.5 million. This figure would rank as the fourth highest among Premier League clubs, trailing behind Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City, with Tottenham, Sunderland, and Chelsea closely following Liverpool.
