Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is expected to join Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, where his former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis is now leading the club’s transfer strategy, according to The Athletic.
Hughes, whose Liverpool contract runs until June 2027, remains fully focused on the club’s summer transfer business and supporting new head coach Andoni Iraola.
However, his contractual situation means this is expected to be his final transfer window at Anfield before a planned transition to allow a successor to settle into the role.
Al Hilal are understood to be operating on the expectation that Richard Hughes will arrive in Riyadh in due course, although the 47-year-old has yet to sign an agreement with the Saudi club.
Francis, who succeeded Hughes as Bournemouth’s technical director after his move to Liverpool, recently left the south-coast club to take up a similar position at Al Hilal.
The pair were teammates during their playing careers at Bournemouth before later working together in the club’s recruitment department.
Hughes was appointed by Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group in March 2024 on a three-year contract.
Alongside Michael Edwards, the club’s CEO of football, he helped appoint Arne Slot as head coach in 2024 and oversaw Liverpool’s £449million spending spree during the 2025 summer transfer window.
Last month, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund sold a 70% stake in Al Hilal to Kingdom Holding Company, owned by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal. The deal valued the club at SAR1.4bn (£276m).
Managed by Simone Inzaghi, Al Hilal’s squad includes Karim Benzema, Darwin Nunez, Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Al Hilal were one of four Saudi Pro League teams acquired by the Public Investment Fund in 2023, alongside Al Nassr, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad.
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