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Richard Hughes has resigned as Liverpool’s sporting director after a two-year spell during which he appointed two managers and the club spent roughly £670m on new signings.

The Scot’s exit, with him expected to move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, comes after Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of Football, also decided to leave, as the reshuffle in the Anfield boardroom continues.

Hughes had informed Liverpool earlier this year that he wanted to step away, but it was agreed that he would stay on until the end of the transfer window, during which Bradley Barcola was signed for an initial £106m.

During Hughes’ tenure, Liverpool appointed Arne Slot as manager and went on to win the Premier League, but the Dutchman was later dismissed and replaced by Andoni Iraola.

Liverpool were concerned they could miss out on major targets, especially Barcola, if Hughes departed sooner, while his relationship with Andoni Iraola — whom he first appointed at Bournemouth and later on Merseyside — was regarded as especially important this summer. Liverpool have now started the process of finding Hughes’ replacement, with the search being led by FSG president Mike Gordon.

In the immediate term, Liverpool feel Hughes’ remaining responsibilities can be handled by other senior figures, including FSG technical director Julian Ward, FSG director of football development Pedro Marques, assistant sporting director David Woodfine, chief scout Barry Hunter and new head coach Iraola.

Hughes arrived at Liverpool in 2024 from Bournemouth and played a key role in selecting Arne Slot as the successor to the departing Jurgen Klopp. The Dutch coach won the Premier League title in his first season at Anfield, but Hughes then made the call to sack Slot a year later after Liverpool finished only fifth, before appointing Iraola.

Hughes presided over a spell of major spending at Anfield, including a record outlay of around £450m in the summer 2025 window, when Florian Wirtz became Liverpool’s first £100m signing and Alexander Isak then arrived for a British record fee of £125m. Barcola’s arrival this week took Liverpool’s total transfer spend during Hughes’ time at Anfield to about £670m.

Hughes is expected to reunite with his former Bournemouth colleague Simon Francis at Al Hilal, although Liverpool are confident that he had not been working for the Saudi club before his departure.