Julian Ward is close to becoming Liverpool sporting director again. The move fills the vacancy left by Richard Hughes, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal earlier this month. It was first reported by David Ornstein The Athletic A familiar face would return to run the club’s football strategy.
Ward is no stranger to the job. He held the sporting director role during the 2022/23 season, stepping up after Michael Edwards left it for the first time. For the last two years he has worked as technical director for owners Fenway Sports Group, staying close to the recruitment department even out of the frontline job. Talk of a Julian Ward Liverpool sporting director reunion has grown fast since Hughes departed, and the Echo suggests the details could be finalised soon.
Julian Ward Close to Rejoining Liverpool as Sporting Director
Hughes left Anfield for Al-Hilal earlier this month. He did not go alone. Recruitment staff members Mark Burchill and Craig McKee followed him to Saudi Arabia, stripping out much of Liverpool’s scouting leadership just months before the January window opens. That left a gap at the top of the football department. Ward now looks set to fill it.
Official Details and FSG Leadership Changes
The exits came after an unsettled period in the boardroom. Michael Edwards returned to FSG in 2024 as chief executive of football, only to leave again in the summer of 2026. Hughes had been the senior figure in football operations until his own move abroad. His sudden exit forced FSG to act quickly.
Liverpool’s ownership picture has shifted too. The 1892 Holdings consortium, led by Amit Bhatia and including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has bought a 38 per cent stake in the club. That fresh investment sits alongside FSG’s continued control. It adds weight to the case for settling the football department fast, with new money and new voices now watching how the club is run.
Impact on Andoni Iraola and Liverpool Recruitment
Any appointment matters most for Andoni Iraola. He needs a clear structure above him as he plans for January. Iraola has overseen an unbeaten start under Andoni Iraola this season, and resolving the sporting director question quickly would let him focus on transfer targets rather than boardroom uncertainty.
Liverpool have already shown strong away form, including a recent victory on the south coast. Even so, the club still needs to rebuild the scouting team lost when Burchill and McKee left with Hughes. Ward knows this territory well. His background in Liverpool’s data driven recruitment model, built during the Edwards years, makes him a logical choice to get that department staffed again before winter.
Next Steps for Liverpool Backroom Architecture
Liverpool have not confirmed Ward’s appointment. Reports make clear he is close to the role, not officially signed. The club is expected to finalise the position before January, giving Ward time to rebuild the recruitment staff lost to Al-Hilal and settle his working relationship with Iraola.
A Julian Ward Liverpool sporting director appointment would restore some continuity FSG has lacked since Edwards’ second departure. It would also give Iraola a clear line of communication above him for a busy winter of transfer business. The club’s new investors will be watching closely to see how quickly the backroom settles.
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