KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JULY 05: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Richard Hughes sporting director of Liverpool during his first press conference at AXA Training Centre on July 05, 2024 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Richard Hughes has left Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Richard Hughes has left Liverpool after two years at the helm of the club as sporting director. The 47-year-old has decided to leave the club a year early, leaving behind a mixed legacy at Anfield.
Hughes arrived from Bournemouth in the summer of 2024 and was responsible for the decision to appoint Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's successor. He therefore took plenty of the plaudits when Slot delivered the Premier League title in his first campaign. But he has also been on the receiving end of his fair share of criticism, given what followed in a disappointing second season.
Liverpool splashed out over £400million on signings last summer, bringing in Alexander Isak (£125m), Florian Wirtz (£116m) and Hugo Ekitike (£79m) as the headline additions which were supposed to help solidify the Reds as the best team in the league. Those deals didn't immediately pay off, with Liverpool finishing fifth in the Premier League.
That cost Slot his job and prompted the hiring of Andoni Iraola for a summer rebuild. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all left on free transfers, leaving Hughes and his colleagues with a major task on their hands.
After a frustrating window, Liverpool signed Bradley Barcola (£123m) from Paris Saint-Germain, following the arrivals of Jeremy Jacquet, Ronald Araujo and Victor Munoz. But the failure to add a specialist right winger, as well as a holding midfielder and a right-back, has drawn criticism.
In total, Hughes has overseen the signings of 18 players for Liverpool, ranging from Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili two years ago, to Barcola days before his departure to Al-Hilal became official.
Hughes was likely delighted to see Isak - his most expensive signing - score twice against Ipswich on Friday night, providing a glimpse of his potential following a difficult debut campaign. Isak's move from Newcastle was expensive and controversial and was followed by a serious injury which derailed the majority of his 2025/26 season.
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak is Liverpool's record signing(Image: Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Wirtz is beginning to find his feet as the playmaker, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are now starters at full-back, but Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered a year ago.
Join our LFC WhatsApp community and get all the latest LFC news, views, transfer gossip and more, as it happens We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Content Image
Content Image