Darwin Nunez is set to complete a permanent move to Al-Hilal after a deal was agreed on Thursday, with the striker agreeing a significant wage increase.
Nunez is due to undergo a medical before his switch to Saudi Arabia, after Liverpool agreed a deal worth upwards of £46 million for their No. 9.
The club are now set to explore their options to bolster their attacking line, which will be aided by the incoming funds.
Liverpool will count a sizeable profit on their books while the player himself has reportedly agreed a contract that would have made him one of the highest earners in Arne Slot‘s squad.
The Uruguayan will earn around £400,000 per week at Al-Hilal, according to a number of reporters including the Mirror‘s Chris McKenna and talkSPORT‘s Ben Jacobs.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez celebrates after scoring the first goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s current highest earner with his new contract worth up to £480,000 a week, with Virgil van Dijk on £385,000 a week.
That is clearly the main draw for players heading to the Saudi Pro League and demonstrates why Nunez would leave elite-level football at 26.
Nunez is claimed to have earned around £140,000 a week at Liverpool – a typical wage for a regular starter on his first contract at the club – meaning he has almost tripled his earnings.
Furthermore, those earnings will be tax free, as opposed to the significant levies imposed on footballers in the UK.
This transfer represents a win-win for Liverpool and Nunez therefore, with the Premier League champions able to offload an ill-fitting big name for a major profit on the books while the player enjoys a major payday himself.
The departures of Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz in particular will have reduced Liverpool’s own wage bill dramatically.
And with a number of high-profile signings this summer and more to come, it allows the club to absorb high-value contracts for the likes of Florian Wirtz and, if he signs, Alexander Isak.
Contract talks are also ongoing with Ibrahima Konate, who is seeking a heavy increase on his current £80,000-a-week wage, while Curtis Jones could be next in line for an extension and pay rise.
Konate and Andy Robertson are both in the final year of their deals, as is the case with Alisson, though Liverpool can extend the goalkeeper’s terms to 2027.