The Curious Case of Darwin Nunez—From Liverpool’s Record Signing to Saudi Exile

Darwin Nunez’s career has always been accompanied by one recurring descriptor: chaos. The 26-year-old Uruguayan’s path from record-breaking Liverpool transfer to Saudi Arabian exile is the latest twist in a story defined by flashes of brilliance and bouts of bewilderment.

Nunez first caught Europe’s eye at Almeria in Spain’s second tier, where 16 goals persuaded Benfica to invest. In Portugal he accelerated the hype, scoring 48 times across two seasons and announcing himself to a continental audience during the 2022 Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool. Two goals over both legs convinced then-manager Jurgen Klopp to push hard for an £85 million deal, add-ons included, despite internal analytics misgivings inside Anfield.

The early signs were encouraging. A goal in the Community Shield against Manchester City and a goal-and-assist Premier League debut suggested Liverpool had acquired a modern centre-forward: explosive, tireless and direct. Yet the warning signals arrived just as quickly. A reckless head-butt on his first competitive appearance at Anfield drew a straight red against Crystal Palace, foreshadowing the wild oscillations that would follow.

Across three seasons on Merseyside Nunez tallied 15 goals in year one and improved to 18 goals plus 13 assists in all competitions the next, but glaring misses and erratic technique kept opinion split. Power consistently trumped finesse in his finishing, and an inability to speak English complicated tactical discussions. A meagre seven-goal return in his final campaign, the first under new head coach Arne Slot, coincided with Liverpool’s shift to a more controlled style, hastening the striker’s departure.

Last summer the club recouped £46 million by selling Nunez to Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal. The move was framed as a reboot: weaker defences, plentiful minutes and a chance to relocate his scoring touch. Instead, the chaos followed. Seven goals in 23 appearances have not convinced manager Jorge Jesus, and the January arrival of Karim Benzema—lured across from title rivals Al Ittihad—has pushed Nunez to the margins. Saudi regulations limit foreign registrations; to accommodate Benzema, Al Hilal removed Nunez from their league squad for the remainder of the season. He can feature in only five more domestic matches and must rely on AFC Champions League fixtures for competitive minutes.

The timing is painful. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa will soon assess striking options, and Nunez risks falling down the pecking order. Transfer windows remain open in Brazil, Argentina and MLS, yet a mid-season switch appears unlikely; a summer move back to Europe seems the more plausible escape route.

For now, Nunez trains in Riyadh, another chapter of unpredictability written into a career that continues to flicker between sublime and ridiculous. Whether he can harness the chaos for a final flourish on football’s biggest stages remains, as ever, an open question.