Darwin

Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez completes $62m move from Premier League champions Liverpool to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

The Saudi Arabian soccer league has secured its latest marquee signing after Darwin Nunez completed the move from Liverpool to Al Hilal on Saturday.

The Uruguay international cost a reported 46.3 million pounds ($62m) and has signed a three-year contract.

Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s most successful team, has been searching for another star signing after releasing Brazil great Neymar in January.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes rejected a move before the Club World Cup in June, and there was also reported interest in former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Nunez leaves Liverpool after a mixed time in the Premier League, where he produced some spectacular moments but could not establish himself as the Merseyside club’s first-choice centre forward. He scored 40 goals in 143 games and won the Premier League title last season.

But he made only one league start from the turn of the year and scored just seven goals in 47 total appearances last term.

In a summer when Liverpool has reinforced its attack with the signings of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, along with interest in Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, Nunez’s position had been in doubt.

He follows a slew of players who have left Europe’s top leagues for Saudi Arabia since Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr in 2022.

Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez are some of the high-profile names to make the switch as Saudi Arabia has mounted an ambitious recruitment drive to establish itself as a major player in global soccer.

Al Hilal, which produced one of the biggest upsets at the Club World Cup by eliminating Manchester City, already has a host of marquee players, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

It is also coached by two-time Champions League runner-up Simone Inzaghi.

It has won a record 19 Saudi league titles as well as four Asian championships, but was beaten to the title by Al-Ittihad last season.

Darwin Nunez favours a move to Napoli, Nottingham Forest turn down Newcastle bid for Anthony Elanga, Chelsea hope to wrap up Jamie Gittens deal swiftly.

Liverpool and Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, 25, has made Napoli his preferred destination if he leaves Anfield this summer. (Football Italia), external

Nottingham Forest have rejected a bid from Newcastle worth about £45m for 23-year-old Sweden winger Anthony Elanga, who is valued at £60m. (Sky Sports), external

Chelsea are hopeful of swiftly wrapping up a deal for Borussia Dortmund’s English forward Jamie Gittens, with Bayern Munich also keen on the 20-year-old. (The Athletic – subscription required), external

Fenerbahce are interested in Manchester United’s 25-year-old England winger Jadon Sancho, who is valued at £25m. (Talksport), external

Sunderland have asked Sassuolo about the availability of 26-year-old French winger Armand Lauriente. (ESPN), external

Everton and Manchester United are interested in Leicester’s 28-year-old Nigeria midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who has a £9m relegation release clause in his contract. (Talksport), external

Nottingham Forest and Marseille are interested in Ajax’s 35-year-old England midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has a clause in his contract that would allow him to move on a free transfer. (Mail), external

Leeds are yet to receive an offer for 25-year-old French goalkeeper Illan Meslier despite reports he is due to have a medical with Fenerbahce. (Sky Sports), external

Chelsea’s Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, 30, is expected to finalise his move to Arsenal in a £5m deal this week. (Sky Sports), external

Athletic Bilbao’s 22-year-old Spain forward Nico Williams, who has a £50m release clause in his contract, has told the club he intends to sign for Barcelona. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Everton, Brentford, West Ham and Fulham are considering a move for Ipswich’s 21-year-old England Under-21s winger Omari Hutchinson. (Mail), external

Crystal Palace may still be prevented from playing in Europe next season despite John Textor selling his 43% stake in an attempt to comply with Uefa’s multi-club ownership rules. (Times – subscription required), external

Burnley are preparing a £12m bid for Lazio’s 21-year-old France Under-21s forward Loum Tchaouna. (Football Italia), external

Birmingham City have expressed an interest in signing £7.5m-rated ex-Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, 30, from French Ligue 1 side Rennes. (Sponichi Annex – via Scottish Sun), external

Turkish club Trabzonspor have agreed a fee in the region of £6.8m (€8m) with Southampton for striker Paul Onuachu, 31, and negotiations over personal terms are ongoing. (Fabrizio Romano), external

The Saints have rejected a £10m (€12m) bid for winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, 23, from Italian Serie A side Atalanta, who are managed by former Southampton boss Ivan Juric. (Sky Sports), external

Southampton and Sheffield United face stiff competition from Leeds, Wolves and four German Bundesliga clubs to sign French striker Willem Geubbels, 23, from Swiss Super League side St Gallen after he netted 14 goals in 31 games last season. (L’Equipe – in French), external

Watford are set to sign Udinese defender James Abankwah, 21, and Chelsea left-back Caleb Wiley, 20, on loan again for the 2025-26 campaign after they both spent the second half of last season with the Hornets. (Sky Sports), external

Wrexham are targeting a move for former England duo Danny Ings, 32, and Aaron Cresswell, 35, from Premier League side West Ham United. (Mirror), external

Middlesbrough have shown interest in signing Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist, 21, who spent last season on loan at Championship rivals Sheffield United. (Yorkshire Post), external

Blackburn Rovers winger Tyrhys Dolan has drawn interest from Norwich City and Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers with the 23-year-old’s contract at Ewood Park set to expire this summer. (Football League World), external

Blackpool are interested in signing Millwall midfielder George Honeyman, 30, and Birmingham City midfielder Brandon Khela, 20, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bradford City. (Blackpool Gazette), external