Richard Hughes responds to claims he’s about to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia in new twist

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Richard Hughes has had a key role in Liverpool’s recent big-money spending, but a potential Anfield exit has been mooted for a while now.

Al-Hilal have been trying to get a deal for the Reds transfer chief over the line for some time.

It was previously claimed that Hughes will stay at Liverpool despite the Middle East outfit eyeing a move. However, there have been updates emerging this week that a deal was actually agreed for the former Bournemouth man to move to the Saudi Pro League.

That would have left FSG in a slightly difficult position going into the 2026 summer transfer window, but sources close to Hughes have now denied those claims.

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Richard Hughes not close to joining Al-Hilal

Graeme Bailey of TeamTalk has shared an update on the situation, and the message is now clear.

It is said that ‘sources close to Richard Hughes have firmly denied fresh claims that he is set to take up a role with Al-Hilal’.

They add that suggestions he will leave Liverpool in the very near future are ‘not true’, which may not or may not be a positive in fans’ eyes, depending on how you think the last few transfer windows have gone.

The Reds didn’t make any January signings, though they did spend £60m on Jeremy Jacquet, who will arrive at the club this summer.

Richard Hughes’ Liverpool signings assessed

Prior to that, Hughes oversaw a record-breaking £450m transfer spree during the 2025 summer transfer window.

Of those who arrived, Hugo Ektike was the most consistent option and sat as Liverpool’s top goalscorer prior to being sidelined.

Elsewhere, a British transfer record fee was paid for Alexander Isak, though the Swede is yet to have a proper run in the side due to persistent injury and fitness problems across 2025/26.

There are high hopes for Florian Wirtz next season, but again, he had a pretty slow start to life at Liverpool.

Milos Kerkez has improved since the first few months of the campaign as well, with the Merseyside outfit seemingly building a team that, on paper, should be much better next term.