David Ornstein: Richard Hughes set to leave Liverpool

X: @FabrizioRomano
By Ben Pescod
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Liverpool Face Richard Hughes Transition as Al Hilal Move Looms

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is expected to join Al Hilal later this year, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic, in a development that adds another layer of intrigue to an already important summer at Anfield.

The move is not yet formally completed, with Hughes still under contract at Liverpool until June 2027, but the direction of travel appears clear.

David Ornstein of The Athletic reported: “Simon Francis has joined Al Hilal and is leading the club’s transfer activity, with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes expected to follow his former colleague to the Saudi Pro League side.”

Liverpool Focus Remains on Summer Business

For now, Hughes remains in place and, crucially, still has work to do. Liverpool are operating under new head coach Andoni Iraola, following Arne Slot’s exit on May 30 2026, and that makes this transfer window especially significant.

The report stated: “Hughes, whose Liverpool contract runs through to June 2027, is fully focused on Liverpool’s summer transfer business and supporting the club’s new head coach Andoni Iraola throughout the current market.”

That matters. Liverpool cannot afford drift. A new coach needs clarity, alignment and speed in the market. Hughes’ existing relationship with Iraola from Bournemouth could help provide that, even if his own future appears to be moving elsewhere.

Richard Hughes and Succession Planning

Liverpool have often prided themselves on structure, and this situation will test that structure. Sporting directors can be less visible than managers, but their influence is substantial. Recruitment, contracts, squad planning and long-term strategy all run through that office.

David Ornstein of The Athletic added: “Hughes’s contractual situation means this would naturally be his last transfer window at the club before a period of transition which would allow a successor to settle into the role at Anfield.”

That line is important because it points to planning rather than panic. Liverpool will know that replacing Hughes cannot be treated as a late scramble, especially with Iraola still shaping his squad and the club needing to recover from a poor 2025/26 campaign.

Photo: IMAGO

Al Hilal Link Reunites Familiar Figures

The Al Hilal connection is also logical. Simon Francis has already joined the Saudi Pro League club and is leading their transfer activity. Hughes and Francis worked together at Bournemouth, both as players under Eddie Howe between 2012 and 2014 and later through the wider football structure around the club.

The report also noted: “Francis and Al Hilal are currently operating on the basis of Hughes arriving at the Riyadh-based club in due course.”

For Liverpool, this is a delicate moment. Hughes may remain professional and focused, but succession planning now becomes a priority for Fenway Sports Group. With Iraola newly appointed, Liverpool need coherence above all else.

The immediate question is not only who Liverpool sign this summer, but who will shape the next phase of the club’s football strategy once Hughes departs. In a market where timing is everything, that decision could prove as important as any transfer.

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