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Liverpool chief close to quitting Anfield as he follows ex-team-mate to Saudi Arabia

Liverpool are set to see sporting director Richard Hughes depart following the expiry of his contract in 2027 as he joins former Bournemouth pal in Saudi Arabia

[Richard Hughes is set to swap Liverpool for Saudi Arabia]

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Richard Hughes is set to swap Liverpool for Saudi Arabia(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is expected to head to the Saudi Pro League with this summer's transfer market set to be his final one.

Hughes moved to Anfield in March 2024 and penned a contract through until the summer of 2027, but after that he's set to leave for Al Hilal and join a former Bournemouth team-mate in Simon Francis.

Francis has joined Al Hilal and is leading the clubs transfer activity whilst the Athletic reports that he and the club are currently operating on the basis that Hughes will indeed make the jump and form part of their hierarchy.

Francis and Hughes were team-mates at Bournemouth during their playing careers and were colleagues in the clubs technical department. Francis ultimately replaced Hughes as Bournemouths technical director when he left for Liverpool.

Hughes remains focused on his remit at Liverpool - which is their current transfer business and supporting the clubs new head coach Andoni Iraola. It is understood that this will be his final transfer window before a transition period that allows his replacement to settle into the role.

Hughes, alongside FSG's CEO of football Michael Edwards, helped hire Arne Slot after Jurgen Klopp's exit and presided over last summer's transfer business that saw the Reds twice break the British transfer record. They've since axed Slot and bought in Iraola, who Hughes knew from his time at Bournemouth.

[Simon Francis (left) is ready to have Richard Hughes (centre) join him at Al Hilal]

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Simon Francis (left) is ready to have Richard Hughes (centre) join him at Al Hilal

Al Hilal are managed by the former Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi and have stars like Karim Benzema, Darwin Nunez, Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly on their books. Ironically Nunez has been linked with a move away and the Reds touted as a surprise destination.

Al Hilal did win the Saudi Pro League four times across five years, but that run ended with their triumph in 2024. Last year they did claim the Kings Cup and remain one of the Kingdom's elite sides.

They have not been shy in investing in talent from Europe, both on and off the pitch. Inzaghi left Inter Milan in 2025 and has reportedly signed a deal that earns him around 20m annually.

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