Al-Hilal have confirmed the appointment of former Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes. Official confirmation comes just one day after it was made public that Hughes would be stepping down from his role at Anfield with immediate effect, a little over two years into a three-year deal penned in 2024 when he joined from Bournemouth.
Move to Saudi Pro League
Hughes's move to the Saudi Pro League club had become something of an open secret after reports began to emerge earlier this year and the Scot joins his former Bournemouth colleague and good friend Simon Francis in Riyadh.
Hughes also takes with him Mark Burchill and Craig McKee, who both moved to Liverpool with him when the Scot joined in the summer of 2024.
Recruitment team roles
The pair had previously worked alongside chief scout Barry Hunter at Liverpool as part of the recruitment department that has overseen the two biggest transfer windows in club history in 2025 and 2026. Burchill will hold the title of director of recruitment, while McKee will work as the club's director of scouting.
Although the move was widely anticipated in football circles, Liverpool have insisted they were satisfied that Hughes was not informally working for Al-Hilal while he was still overseeing the specifics of the Reds' summer transfer window.
Al-Hilal statement
In a statement on their official website on Sunday evening, Al-Hilal wrote: "The appointment of Hughes came as part of Al-Hilal's efforts to strengthen its football system and develop its sporting structure with specialised expertise."
"This will contribute to raising the quality of technical work, developing recruitment and scouting processes, and enhancing integration across all aspects related to the football sector."
The board of directors expressed its deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for funding the contracts of the sports management team, which is an extension of his exceptional support for Al-Hilal and his commitment to strengthening the club's structure with qualified talent, thus supporting its sporting journey and achieving its future aspirations.
Fenway Sports Group president, Mike Gordon, is overseeing the search for a new sporting director at Liverpool and it is understood that process is already underway.
