After Michael Edwards left the club earlier this summer, Liverpool officially confirmed last week that sporting director Richard Hughes has also departed.
The pair arrived at the club together in the summer of 2024 after Jurgen Klopp’s departure was confirmed.
Edwards subsequently decided to move on as FSG couldn’t sanction a deal to add another club to their multi-club model.
As for Hughes, he has officially been confirmed as Al-Hilal’s new sporting director as he embarks on a new challenge.
And The Athletic have confirmed that two key members of his backroom team at Liverpool will move to Saudi Arabia along with him.
Liverpool lose two key members of backroom staff
Mark Burchill and Craig McKee, who joined the club from Bournemouth as members of the recruitment team, have also joined Al Hilal.
An excerpt from the article reads: “Two members of Liverpool’s recruitment department have followed Richard Hughes to Al Hilal.
“Mark Burchill and Craig McKee, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth with Hughes two years ago, have gone with the sporting director to the Saudi Pro League club.
Al-Hilal confirm Richard Hughes has joined as sporting director.
Simon Francis is the club's technical director, having started over the summer.
Mark Burchill and Craig McKee have also left Liverpool to join Al-Hilal. Burchill takes on the role of recruitment director and McKee… pic.twitter.com/ROtJVVGymH
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) September 6, 2026
“Burchill was Bournemouth’s chief scout before joining Liverpool in a similar role in March 2024, as part of the revamp of the Merseyside club’s recruitment team. McKee was named Liverpool’s head of scouting operations, having previously been Bournemouth’s recruitment coordinator.”
Liverpool are set to look internally to find Hughes’ successor, with Julian Ward, David Woodfine and Pedro Marques among the candidates being considered.
However, they remain on the lookout for a fresh face to take over the role as they aim to start afresh in the coming months.
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