Darwin Nuñez Reportedly Agrees Al Hilal Contract Termination

TL;DR

Darwin Nuñez has reportedly agreed to terminate his contract with Al Hilal after struggling to adapt in Saudi Arabia. This decision may allow him to return to European football, although potential destinations remain unclear.

Key points

Darwin Nuñez agreed to terminate his contract with Al Hilal.
He struggled to adapt and was sidelined after Karim Benzema's signing.
Nuñez earned £400k per week at Al Hilal, double his Liverpool salary.
A return to European football is likely, but destinations are unclear.
A move to Spain, Italy, or Turkey is expected.

Mentioned in this story

Darwin NuñezAl HilalLiverpoolKarim BenzemaSaudi ArabiaEnglandSpainItalyTurkey

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Darwin Nunez of Uruguay during the international friendly match between England and Uruguay at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images Last summer, Liverpool agreed a £46M deal with Al Hilal to sell striker Darwin Nuñez to the Saudi Pro League side following three seasons in England that had seen the Uruguayan often impress with his physical ability but struggle to find consistency in front of goal. It’s a move that, outside helping balance Liverpool’s books a little in the midst of a big spending summer, hasn’t worked out well for anyone. Liverpool have found themselves short in attack and there’s a solid case the drop in production from superstar Mohamed Salah is linked to the departure of the hard working Nuñez. The player meanwhile didn’t find adjusting to the desert easy, and in January Nuñez found himself frozen out completely when Al Hilal signed Karim Benzema and chose to leave the Uruguayan unregistered to make room for their new striker signing. As for Al Hilal, well, they agreed to pay a guaranteed £46M to Liverpool for a player it turned out they didn’t especially want or need and are paying Nuñez upwards of £400k per week—double his reported Liverpool salary—to train with the reserves and sit in the stands on matchday watching the team play. Now, have Al Hilal and Nuñez agreeing to terminate his contract so that he can depart the Saudi club in the summer and, if things go to plan for the player, return to major European football. As of yet, there are no solid reports of potential destinations. A return to England and the Premier League, though, remains unlikely and most might expect a move to Spain or . Turkey will also likely end up discussed as an option, but upwards of £20M of annual salary on the table to get out of Saudi, it seems a clear case of a player prioritizing football over money.

Q&A

Why did Darwin Nuñez leave Al Hilal?

Darwin Nuñez is leaving Al Hilal due to difficulties adjusting to life in Saudi Arabia and being sidelined after the signing of Karim Benzema.

What was Darwin Nuñez's salary at Al Hilal?

Darwin Nuñez was reportedly earning upwards of £400k per week at Al Hilal, which was double his salary at Liverpool.

Where might Darwin Nuñez play after leaving Al Hilal?

While a return to the Premier League seems unlikely, potential destinations for Nuñez could include Spain, Italy, or Turkey.