Darwin Nunez to Liverpool. A free transfer that demands a serious answer
Darwin Nunez has set his heart on a return to Liverpool this summer, entering talks to terminate his Al-Hilal contract after just one season in Saudi Arabia. The Uruguayan left Merseyside under a cloud in 2025, scoring just five goals in 30 Premier League appearances before the Reds moved him on. Liverpool sold him to Al-Hilal for an initial £46 million, a fee that helped balance the books during a busy rebuild, though the move ultimately benefited no one.
Al-Hilal were paying Nunez upwards of £400,000 per week, double his reported Liverpool salary, to train with the reserves and sit in the stands on matchday. The situation deteriorated sharply after Karim Benzema’s arrival, which led to Nunez losing his foreign-player registration entirely. He has not played competitively since 16 February, and the club eventually moved to cut their losses. Nunez has now reached an agreement in principle with Al-Hilal to leave permanently at no cost ahead of next season.
Should Iraola pursue Darwin Nunez to Liverpool this summer?
The situation at Anfield matters enormously here. Hugo Ekitike, one of Liverpool’s key attacking recruits, faces a serious Achilles injury that could keep him out until 2027, while Alexander Isak endured a difficult 2025-26 campaign. Liverpool have already lost Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate, leaving Andoni Iraola playing catch-up before a ball is even kicked. Against that backdrop, a free striker who already knows the club, the city, and the dressing room is not a trivial offer. Nunez contributed 66 goal involvements across 143 appearances during his three-year Anfield spell, numbers that tell a more honest story than his final disappointing season suggests.
Darwin Nunez to Liverpool is low-risk, high-upside
Iraola’s high-tempo, pressing style at Bournemouth saw forwards like Evanilson and Rayan thrive, and Nunez’s relentless running and physical intensity fit that profile naturally. Liverpool supporters themselves have pointed out that Nunez suits Iraola’s system and would serve as reliable cover while Ekitike recovers. Signing him costs nothing in transfer fees, and his wages, reset after leaving Saudi Arabia, should sit within reason.
Also read: Liverpool and Man Utd ready for transfer war to sign Bournemouth’s energetic star
Iraola arrives at Liverpool needing quick, decisive answers. Nunez is available for free, motivated to prove himself, and already embedded in the club’s culture. The risk of ignoring that opportunity, particularly with a strike force this thin, looks far greater than the risk of bringing him back.
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