Richard Hughes helped sign 18 players during his two-year reign as Liverpool sporting director
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Richard Hughes has stepped down as Liverpool sporting director after two years at the helm, departing the Reds prematurely having signing a three-year contract following his arrival in the summer of 2024.
Joining from AFC Bournemouth, having been head-hunted by Michael Edwards, the former Scotland international leaves behind a mixed legacy at Anfield.
He was responsible for the appointment of Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's successor, which paid immediate dividends as Liverpool won the Premier League title in the pair's first year at the club.
Such glory came despite muted transfer activity, with Federico Chiesa the only new addition to Slot's inherited squad as Martin Zubimendi rejected a move to Anfield. Meanwhile, Hughes helped tie down Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to new contracts, and managed to bank an £8.4m fee for Trent Alexander-Arnold as Real Madrid paid up the final month of his contract after the Scouser decided to depart for pastures new.
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Hughes then oversaw a record-breaking £450m transfer spending spree in the summer of 2025 as Liverpool broke their transfer record twice when signing Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Yet their new arrivals failed to have the desired impact as the Reds ultimately struggled, limping towards Champions League qualification with their below-par campaign costing Slot his job.
Hughes will recruit Andoni Iraola for the second time, having also taken the Spaniard to Bournemouth, as the Dutchman's replacement.
Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson departed on free transfers earlier this summer, as Liverpool found themselves in need of a further rebuild.
Bradley Barcola would become the last signing of the Hughes' era, as the Reds landed the Frenchman after a lengthy pursuit in an £123m deal from Paris Saint-Germain.
Meanwhile, the early signs from fellow new arrivals Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz and and Ronald Araujo have been promising.
Yet Hughes leaves behind an arguably imbalanced squad with Liverpool failing to sign a natural replacement for Salah on the right wing, and with glaring holes in midfield and at full-back.
In total, Hughes has overseen the signings of 18 players for Liverpool, ranging from Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili two years ago, to Barcola days before his departure.
The man responsible for the four most expensive signings in Reds history, only time will tell if such activity is seen as successful in the long-run. In the mean-time, the jury remains out considering last season's struggles at Anfield.
But how would you rank Hughes' time in the sporting director chair? Use the ECHO'sinteractive ranker below to rate them all from best to worst.