Liverpool Begin Search for New Sporting Director After Hughes Departs for Saudi Arabia

2 hours ago·2 min

Liverpool are on the hunt for a new sporting director — their fifth in three years — after Richard Hughes confirmed his departure to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. Hughes joined the club in the summer of 2024, overseeing the arrivals of managers Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola before informing Liverpool he wished to seek a fresh challenge in Saudi Arabia.

Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon is leading the search for Hughes' successor, with the club eager to make a swift appointment. Liverpool will consider internal candidates as well as external options, though there is a clear preference for someone willing to commit to the role long term.

Who could take the role?

David Woodfine, Hughes' former assistant and Liverpool's previous director of loans, is among the front-runners. He was seen showing Iraola around the AXA Training Centre when the manager arrived in June.

Julian Ward, who served as Liverpool's sporting director between 2022 and 2023 and oversaw the signings of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Darwin Nunez, is another name in contention. Ward now holds the position of technical director at FSG.

Pedro Marques, FSG's director of football development, brings experience from his time as technical director at Benfica — where he helped secure the signing of Enzo Fernandez for £10 million — and a previous role as a first-team performance analyst at Manchester City.

From outside the club, Luis Campos at Paris St-Germain would represent a high-profile appointment, though he is widely considered unlikely to leave the European champions in the near future.

The Alisson and Van Dijk question

Whoever steps into the role will face pressing contract decisions. Goalkeeper Alisson, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season. Iraola named him a vice-captain, and he has started all three of Liverpool's league fixtures so far this campaign. Lucca Brughmans, 18, will arrive from Genk next summer in a deal worth up to £30 million, but is not expected to compete for the starting position immediately. Giorgi Mamardashvili is also yet to fully convince.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk faces a similar situation, with his contract also expiring next summer. Liverpool already lost Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson at the end of last season, making further high-profile departures a genuine concern. Van Dijk, 35, has played every minute of Liverpool's league season so far and remains one of Europe's finest centre-backs. Young defenders including Jeremy Jacquet, Giovanni Leoni, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, and Mor Talla Ndiaye could benefit from his continued presence.