Nunez hits on Al Hilal debut

Darwin Nunez opens his Al Hilal chapter with a goal in a pre season win, just after leaving Liverpool.

Nunez scores on Al Hilal debut after Liverpool exit

Darwin Nunez scored on his Al Hilal debut, coming on as a substitute in the second half and finishing the 6-0 friendly win against Aarau. The goal arrived a day after his transfer from Liverpool was confirmed, marking a rapid start to life in Saudi Arabia.

Al Hilal signed the striker for a reported 46 million pounds after Liverpool had paid 64 million pounds to bring him from Benfica in 2022. Nunez left Liverpool after three seasons in which he scored 40 goals in 143 appearances and helped win the Carabao Cup and the Premier League under different managers.

The club announced his arrival on social media and his Instagram post was quickly engaged by fans and former teammates, signaling a quick social media echo of the move. Nunez then posted a farewell message to Liverpool, saying the club will always be part of who he is and thanking staff and teammates as he moves forward with Al Hilal.

The transfer underscores how Saudi clubs are reshaping the market for top players. A big fee and rapid integration into a new squad point to a clear ambition from Al Hilal to compete on several fronts, not just domestically. Yet this kind of move also invites scrutiny of the lasting impact on players’ career trajectories and the financial health of the sport. The personal side matters too: Nunez leaves with a strong bond to Liverpool’s supporters, and his farewell messages reflect the human cost of big transfers.

Highlights

The next chapters will test whether this debut is the start of a sustained rise or a well-timed moment in a changing market.