Richard Hughes has stepped down from his position as Liverpool’s sporting director, bringing his time at Anfield to an end after just over two years in the role.
Liverpool confirmed the departure, with Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon thanking Hughes for his contribution to the club and the work he carried out during a period of significant change.
In a statement released on Liverpool’s official website on Saturday afternoon, Gordon said:
“Richard joined us at the start of a period of change, embracing that responsibility by leading our football operations department and overseeing recruitment while also providing valuable support to our coaching staff.
“The results we achieved in these areas during this period are testament to this contribution. Nevertheless, we respect Richard’s life choices and wish him and his family well in their next venture.”
Hughes Career Journey
Richard Daniel Hughes, a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder for Bournemouth and Arsenal, moved into football management and recruitment after retiring from playing.
He joined Bournemouth’s recruitment department under Eddie Howe in 2016 and was later promoted to technical director during the club’s Premier League era.
In 2024, Hughes left Bournemouth to take up the sporting director position at Liverpool.During his time at Anfield, he was part of the club’s successful 2024/25 campaign, when Liverpool secured their 20th league title. The Reds also achieved Champions League qualification the following season.
Hughes oversaw significant transfer activity during his tenure, with Liverpool spending heavily during transfer windows, including the signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United and Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen for £125 million and £116 million respectively, and now Bradley Barcola who signed in from PSG for a fee worth over £100 million.
The 47-year-old is reportedly set to continue his career in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal.
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