1 month ago
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40 goals in 143 games
©TM/IMAGO
Darwin Núñez has completed his exit from Liverpool and signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The Uruguayan striker moves an initial €53m fee and has signed a three-year contract with his new club. Núñez had been in fantastic form in pre-season for the Reds with five goals in four games but his performances have generally been erratic since joining the Merseyside club for €85m from Benfica in 2022. The attacker has scored 40 goals and provided 26 assists for the Reds across 143 games, but he has now played his last game for the club. Despite his inconsistent performances, Núñez is an incredibly popular figure, amongst fans and teammates at Anfield, and Liverpool have managed to recoup a sizeable fee for the Uruguay international.
Darwin Nunez enters Liverpool’s top ten biggest sales
Far from resting on their laurels after winning the Premier League, Liverpool have built from a position of strength and made several high-profile signings this summer. Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké have all arrived to the tune of €308m. Liverpool are the biggest spenders so far this window but they’ve also now recouped €196m in sales. Núñez has now become Liverpool’s sixth biggest sale in their history after completing his move to the Saudi Pro League.
Moreover, Núñez will likely rise to their fourth biggest sale if relatively easily achievable add-ons are met to take the overall package to €65m. Fernando Torres’ €58.5m move to Chelsea in 2010 and Raheem Sterling’s €63.7m move to Manchester City in 2015 currently occupy fifth and fourth spot but the final fee for Núñez is expected to eclipse both players. Interestingly, three of Liverpool’s top ten biggest sales will arrive this summer after Luis Díaz (€75m) joined Bayern Munich and Jarrell Quansah (€35m) moved to Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool’s vast spending this summer has been questioned in some quarters but once Núñez’s move is completed, Arne Slot’s net spend will drop to €112.5 million. That will be the fourth highest of Premier League clubs behind Arsenal, Manchester United and Man City, with Tottenham, Sunderland and Cheslea not far off Liverpool.
