Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is leaving the Premier League club to join Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal after facing criticism over summer transfer business.
The Scottish transfer executive is departing for the Middle East after a turbulent summer window that left new head coach Andoni Iraola with severe squad shortages in key positions.
Hughes agreed his move to Al Hilal following months of secret negotiations, ending a dramatic tenure at Anfield that featured domestic trophy success alongside intense scrutiny from supporters.
Hughes was responsible for appointing former head coach Arne Slot after Jurgen Klopp resigned from his role at Liverpool. Slot was a replacement that few supporters had anticipated, yet Slot and Hughes went on to lift the Premier League trophy at Anfield just twelve months after that appointment.
During his time at the club, Hughes convinced German international Florian Wirtz to choose Liverpool despite interest from major European clubs. He also secured the signature of striker Alexander Isak after Newcastle United insisted throughout the summer that the Swedish international was not available for transfer.
While neither Wirtz nor Isak has fully flourished yet, both players are showing encouraging signs that their partnership could become formidable for opposing defenses across the country.
Hughes and Slot also earned praise for their dignity and professional handling of public statements and private actions following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash at 28 years of age.
Supporters initially adored Hughes during a record-breaking 2025 transfer window in which Liverpool spent £446 million on new arrivals. Internet memes celebrated his aggressive market approach, and a presenter on the YouTube channel Redmen TV dubbed him Big Moves Hughes.
Public opinion turned sharply during the latest transfer period, with a vocal section of social media users targeting Hughes as public enemy number one. The hostility arrived despite Liverpool recording the largest net spend in the Premier League and completing one purchase just £2 million short of the British transfer record.
In total, Liverpool have invested £693 million in first-team squad members since winning the Premier League title. However, frustration grew among supporters who accused the board of lacking ambition and questioned the strategic plan after the club failed to reinforce glaring weak spots.
Defensive Shortages and Midfield Weakness
Hughes previously hired Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth before recruiting him to succeed Slot at Liverpool this summer. While the signing of winger Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain was hailed as a potential game-changer, analysts and fans warned that the squad remains dangerously thin at full back and central midfield.
Liverpool have demonstrated strong attacking firepower by scoring freely in their opening two league fixtures. However, defensive instability has raised immediate alarm, with 35-year-old captain Virgil van Dijk and new central defensive partner Jeremy Jacquet appearing exposed without adequate protection.
The requirement for a deep-lying defensive midfielder has persisted since Brazilian international Fabinho departed in 2023, following a period of decline prior to his exit. Liverpool have left the position unfortified despite clear evidence that midfield protection is required.
At right back, Jeremie Frimpong is currently the only fit senior option, as Conor Bradley remains sidelined following a severe knee injury sustained in January. Frimpong has struggled for form early in the season, leaving Liverpool with no direct cover if the Dutch international suffers another injury.
Defender Ronald Araujo is currently on loan at Anfield but is needed to cover at centre back, where both Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni are receiving treatment on the medical table. At left back, Milos Kerkez lacks experienced cover because deputy Kostas Tsimikas struggled for playing time during a loan spell at Roma last season. Both Frimpong and Kerkez are viewed as significant downgrades from former full backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and prime Andy Robertson.
Forward Recruitment and Contract Uncertainty
Rather than prioritizing defensive additions, Hughes focused the majority of his transfer budget on attacking options. Liverpool attempted to acquire wingers Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr, but neither deal materialised. Sarr, aged 28, was not considered an upgrade on potential departee Cody Gakpo, while Minteh was sidelined with an existing injury.
Although Liverpool knew for six months that star forward Mohamed Salah would leave the club, recruitment efforts appeared rushed during the final ten days of the transfer window. The club ultimately completed deals for wingers Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz, both of whom represent shrewd long-term business.
While Barcola and Munoz add talent to the squad, Liverpool face potential instability due to a wave of expiring player contracts. Key leaders Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson are both in the final year of their contracts, alongside Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, and Wataru Endo.
As Hughes prepares to depart for Saudi Arabia, Iraola begins his managerial tenure with unresolved design faults in his squad. If Liverpool fail to achieve their goals this season, fan frustration is expected to target the board rather than the new head coach.
