Free-agent Darwin Nunez offered back to Liverpool as Iraola eyes first signing

Darwin Nunez has been offered to Liverpool as a free agent following the mutual termination of his contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, with reports from TEAMtalk indicating the 26-year-old Uruguayan has privately indicated he would welcome a return to Anfield.

Nunez originally joined Liverpool in the summer of 2022 under Jürgen Klopp for a fee widely reported in the region of £85 million — a price tag he never fully justified during his time at the club. His Merseyside career was marked by persistent wastefulness in front of goal: in the 2023/24 Premier League season alone, he registered 27 Big Chances Missed alongside 11 league goals, and managed nine goals with 20 Big Chances Missed in his debut campaign.

The striker moved to Al-Hilal at the start of the 2025/26 season, scoring nine times in 24 appearances before being released due to the Saudi Pro League’s foreign player restrictions. His final appearance for the club came in February, when he scored twice in a 2-1 AFC Champions League Elite win over Al-Wahda.

Nunez is now weighing his options ahead of a summer move. Benfica are among the clubs expected to compete with Liverpool for his signature, though the TEAMtalk report notes there are whispers in Spain that the forward has already given the green light to a return to Anfield — where he would arrive at no transfer cost.

The potential homecoming comes at a pivotal moment for Liverpool. The club has seen Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson depart at the end of the 2025/26 season, while Ibrahima Konaté appears set for a move to Real Madrid. New head coach Andoni Iraola, taking charge for the first time next season, inherits a squad with notable gaps to fill.

Whether Nunez — whose finishing metrics did not improve during his spell in Saudi Arabia, where he scored six league goals from an expected goals tally of 11.48 — represents the answer to those attacking deficiencies remains a question Iraola will need to weigh carefully. The prospect of a proven Premier League presence arriving on a free transfer, however, gives the Spaniard an option that carries minimal financial risk.