Nunez nets on Al Hilal debut

Darwin Nunez opens his Al Hilal scoring account with a debut goal after a £46 million transfer from Liverpool.

Darwin Nunez scores on debut for Al Hilal after move from Liverpool

Darwin Nunez found the net on his Al Hilal debut as the Saudi side beat Aarau 6-0 in a pre-season friendly. The Uruguayan striker, who joined from Liverpool for about £46 million, came off the bench to seal the scoreline with a powerful finish inside the box after being set up by teammates. An offside ruling for a prior effort briefly interrupted his early impact. Al Hilal finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season and will compete in the AFC Champions League this term, heightening expectations around the new signing.

Earlier this summer, Nunez showed strong form in pre-season with Liverpool, contributing five goals in four appearances and featuring in the squad for their Asian tour. He posted an open letter to Liverpool supporters after the transfer, thanking the club and its fans for three years of memories as he prepared for a fresh challenge abroad.

Nunez’s debut goal is more than a feel-good moment for Al Hilal. It signals the Saudi league’s ongoing push to attract high-profile players, pairing big fees with ambitious sporting targets. The move also underscores how European clubs are reshaping their rosters in response to market dynamics, widening gaps between traditional leagues and leagues that can offer lucrative packages. For Nunez, the challenge shifts from proving himself in Liverpool’s forward line to delivering against a broader set of continental rivals, testing whether his goal-scoring instinct travels. While the transfer raises expectations, it also invites scrutiny of long-term sustainability and competitive balance across leagues.

Highlights

Football markets move fast and bigger checks come with bigger questions.