Darwin Núñez’s Liverpool journey: Record signing’s mixed legacy and move to Saudi giants Al-Hilal

Darwin Núñez’s move from Liverpool to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal marks the end of an eventful three-year chapter at Anfield. 

Arriving in 2022 amid high expectations, his tenure featured moments of brilliance, controversy, and deep divisions among supporters.

Liverpool signed Darwin Núñez from Portuguese club Benfica in June 2022 for an initial £64 million, with potential add-ons bringing the total fee to approximately £85 million, making him the club’s most expensive signing at the time.

Why did Liverpool buy him?

Liverpool targeted Núñez as a direct replacement for Sadio Mané, who had left for Bayern Munich. Núñez had impressed with his prolific goal-scoring record at Benfica, netting 34 goals in 41 appearances during the 2021–22 season. 

Manager Jürgen Klopp was particularly drawn to his physicality, pace, and versatility as a forward. 

Despite initial excitement, Núñez’s time at Liverpool was marked by inconsistency, with a conversion rate of just 11.1% and a tendency to underperform his expected goals.

Where did he come from?

Núñez joined Liverpool from Benfica, where he had a standout season, leading to his move to the Premier League.

Departure to Al Hilal

In August 2025, Liverpool agreed to sell Núñez to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal for a fixed fee of £46.2 million (€53 million), potentially rising to £56.6 million (€65 million) with add-ons. 

His departure followed a period of reduced playing time under manager Arne Slot, who favored other attacking options.

Despite his departure, Núñez’s tenure at Liverpool was characterised by moments of brilliance and a passionate playing style, earning him a place in the club’s recent history. 

With his transfer now confirmed, we examine whether his time at Liverpool was ultimately a success or a failure, how fans perceived him, what he’s said about his departure, what lies ahead, and whether a return to Europe remains possible.

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Was his time at Liverpool a success or failure?

Darwin scored 40 goals in 143 appearances, helping the club secure the 2024–25 Premier League title, the FA Community Shield (2022), and reach the EFL Cup final (2025).

However, his inconsistency in finishing and frequent lapses in form meant he never truly fulfilled the €75 million expectations set when he arrived from Benfica. 

In short: meaningful contributions, but ultimately not meeting potential.

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The reaction among Liverpool fans to Darwin Núñez’s departure is mixed, reflecting the ups and downs of his time at Anfield.

Will he be missed?

• Many fans appreciated his work rate, pace, and physicality, admiring his commitment even when goals weren’t always flowing. His moments of brilliance, like those stunning solo runs and key goals, created fond memories. Supporters who backed him throughout feel he deserved more time to settle fully and are sad to see him go.
• Some fans admired his resilience in the face of harsh criticism and social media abuse, respecting his fighting spirit.

Are fans happy he has left?

• On the flip side, a sizable portion of the fanbase grew frustrated with his inconsistency and finishing issues, feeling he never quite matched the high expectations or transfer fee. For these supporters, his departure is seen as a relief and a chance for Liverpool to find a more reliable striker.
• The emotional backlash online, especially during tough runs of form, fueled some fans’ impatience and disappointment.

Overall:

While Darwin won’t be forgotten for his effort and occasional flashes of brilliance, many fans view his exit as an opportunity to refresh the attack and move on from a chapter that never quite fulfilled its promise. 

It’s a farewell tinged with both respect and realism.

Fan sentiment

Fan sentiment was deeply polarised. Some praised his relentless energy and physicality:

“He works hard, never gives up… I will always back him.” 

Others were sharply critical:

“He is one of the worst finishers I have ever seen as a number 9.”

Online abuse took a toll—Darwin even removed his Liverpool-related Instagram posts amid mounting criticism. Yet many fans continued to support him:

“There is so much quality in there… I’ll always back him.” 

Here are some representative fan quotes and social media reactions capturing the mixed feelings about Darwin Núñez’s departure from Liverpool:

Supportive fans

• “Darwin gave his all every single game. Sometimes things didn’t go his way, but his heart was always there. Wish him all the best.” — Reddit r/LiverpoolFC
• “He worked hard and showed flashes of brilliance. It’s a shame it didn’t fully click, but I’ll miss his energy.” — Twitter user @LFC_Fanatic
• “Too much negativity around him on social media. He deserved more patience and backing from fans.” — Facebook Liverpool Fan Group

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Frustrated fans

• “Glad he’s gone. We needed a striker who can finish chances consistently, and Darwin just wasn’t that guy.” — Reddit r/soccer
• “His inconsistency and poor finishing cost us points. Time to move on and bring in someone more reliable.” — Twitter user @AnfieldAnalyst
• “I never felt confident when he was leading the line. The club needs a real goalscorer.” — Liverpool fan forum comment

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Neutral or balanced views

• “Darwin wasn’t perfect, but he did win us some trophies. Hopefully, he can thrive elsewhere and maybe return stronger one day.” — Instagram comment under Liverpool FC post
• “Mixed feelings. I hope he finds success at Al-Hilal, and we get the striker we need here.” — Twitter user @RedDevil88

These reactions show a fanbase divided between respect for his effort and frustration over unmet expectations. The emotional rollercoaster of his Liverpool career is reflected in this spectrum of opinions.

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What has he said?

Darwin showed resilience in his messages:

“If I fall, I get up. You’ll never see me give up. I’m going to give it my all until my last day here in Liverpool.”

He also critiqued social media personally:

“From the moment you start playing and until you retire, there will always be someone who will criticise you… I promise I’ll avoid mentioning even the good stuff [on social media].”

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What’s next for him?

Darwin is now a £46–53 million signing for Al-Hilal, on a three-year contract, and will earn nearly three times his Liverpool wages (around £400,000/week). 

He’s already made an impact, scoring on his debut in a pre-season friendly vs. FC Aarau.

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Will he return to Europe?

Possibly. While European clubs—including AC Milan and Atlético Madrid—showed interest, they were deterred by high fees. 

Despite moving to Saudi Arabia, pundits like Dean Saunders (on TalkSport) suggest his profile still warrants consideration:

“His skill set… make[s] him a valuable asset potentially available for a bargain £40 million.” 

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Controversies during his time at Liverpool

• Headbutt incident: Sent off early in his Liverpool stint for violent conduct vs. Crystal Palace.
• Social media deletions: Removed Liverpool content amid fan backlash.
• Emotional temperament: Periods of visible frustration and perceived lack of professionalism, especially during Klopp’s guard-of-honour game.

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What did he win at Liverpool?

• Premier League (2024–25)
• FA Community Shield (2022)
• EFL Cup runner-up (2025)

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Goals to remember!

Darwin Núñez scored several memorable goals during his time at Liverpool that showcased his pace, power, and clinical finishing. Here are some of his best strikes:

1. Solo Goal vs Manchester United (2022–23 Premier League)
   — A blistering counter-attack where Darwin picked up the ball near the halfway line, burst past multiple defenders with lightning speed, and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. This goal perfectly highlighted his speed and composure.
2. Volley vs Arsenal (FA Cup 2023)
   — A thunderous volley from outside the box after a well-placed cross, showing his technical ability and timing.
3. Hat-trick Goal vs Bournemouth (Premier League 2023)
   — The goal that completed his hat-trick, where he made a sharp run into the box, outpaced the defense, and finished clinically into the corner.
4. Free Kick vs Leeds United (Premier League 2023)
   — A rare but stunning direct free-kick curling into the top corner, surprising the keeper and demonstrating his growing set-piece skill.
5. Header vs Real Madrid (Champions League 2023)
   — A powerful, well-timed header from a corner kick in a high-stakes match, proving his aerial threat.

These goals were key moments that endeared him to fans and showed glimpses of the striker many hoped he could become consistently. 

Despite some ups and downs, Darwin’s best strikes were often spectacular and crucial for Liverpool.

Conclusion

Darwin Núñez’s Liverpool years were a blend of promise and frustration. He contributed important moments and silverware yet never delivered the consistency his price tag implied.

Still, his work ethic earned him a loyal fanbase despite enduring criticism. 

His move to Al-Hilal offers financial security and a fresh start. Whether he can reignite his European credentials remains an open question—but as long as his heart and hunger endure, a return cannot be ruled out.