Darwin Núñez's future has taken another turn. The 27-year-old Uruguayan striker will temporarily leave Al-Hilal and join newly promoted Al-Diriyah on loan in the Saudi Pro League.
Darwin Núñez to Leave Al-Hilal on Loan for Saudi Newcomers
The Uruguayan striker will temporarily leave Al-Hilal to join newly promoted Al-Diriyah, where he will look to regain playing time and become a key figure.
The agreement covers the upcoming season and does not include a purchase option. Al-Diriyah will also take responsibility for Núñez's substantial salary during his loan spell, allowing the striker to remain in Saudi Arabia after a difficult period at Al-Hilal.
The move comes after Núñez's proposed transfer to Turkish side Trabzonspor collapsed. The club had hoped to reunite him with Mohamed Salah, his former teammate at Liverpool, where the two attackers formed an impressive partnership.
However, Núñez's contractual situation with Al-Hilal became a major obstacle. The Saudi club reportedly owes the striker a significant amount in outstanding payments, and Núñez was unwilling to terminate his contract without resolving the financial dispute.
His situation at Al-Hilal had already become increasingly complicated. The club decided not to register him for domestic league competition because of restrictions on the number of foreign players. The arrival of Karim Benzema also influenced head coach Simone Inzaghi's selection decisions, with the club choosing to use its foreign-player slots on other internationals.
As a result, Núñez was left out of the club's early league squads and informed that he was not part of the plans for the domestic campaign.
The striker's career has been defined by several major transfers. After beginning his career with Peñarol, Núñez moved to Europe with Almería, where his performances quickly attracted the attention of Benfica. The Portuguese club paid around €24 million for his services.
His success in Portugal convinced Liverpool to make a major investment in 2022, paying more than €80 million for the forward. After his spell in England, Núñez moved to the Saudi league, although his experience at Al-Hilal has not gone according to plan.
Now Al-Diriyah represents an opportunity for Núñez to regain his importance and secure regular playing time. The Uruguayan remains under contract with Al-Hilal until 2028, meaning his long-term future will depend on how his contractual situation is eventually resolved.
For now, his priority will be to get regular minutes, regain his confidence and rediscover his goalscoring form in Saudi Arabia. A return to a top European club will have to wait.
