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Liverpool have been searching for a new sporting director following Richard Hughes’ departure for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
The club considered both internal and external candidates, while maintaining that its existing recruitment team was capable of supporting Andoni Iraola’s long-term plans.
According to The Athletic, FSG technical director Julian Ward is now expected to be appointed as Liverpool’s new sporting director.
Ward was considered the leading candidate to replace Hughes after the former Bournemouth executive officially left Liverpool earlier this month.
Hughes held the sporting director role for two-and-a-half years before joining former colleague Simon Francis at Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
Julian Ward has emerged as Liverpool’s preferred candidate, with the club’s ownership-led process nearing its conclusion.
His appointment would mark a second spell as the Reds’ sporting director, having previously held the role during the 2022-23 season.
The 45-year-old joined Liverpool from Manchester City in 2012 as European scouting manager for Spain and Portugal.
He later became loan pathways and football partnerships manager before being promoted to assistant sporting director in 2020.
He worked alongside Michael Edwards before succeeding him in 2022. However, Ward confirmed in November 2022 that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
During his season as sporting director, Ward oversaw the signings of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo. He remained beyond his official departure date in 2023 to help complete Alexis Mac Allister’s move from Brighton.
Ward became FSG’s technical director in 2024 following Edwards’ return, overseeing player development pathways and the academy.
He had been expected to oversee football operations at another club FSG planned to acquire, but those plans were later shelved.
His expected return to Liverpool comes amid significant changes behind the scenes. FSG confirmed in August that it had sold close to a 40 per cent stake in the club to a consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Edwards stepped down as FSG’s CEO of football in July, while Mark Burchill and Craig McKee also left Liverpool earlier in September before joining Hughes at Al-Hilal.
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