Darwin Núñez Revives Career at Al-Diriyah as Saudi Stay Continues
Darwin Núñez is settled in Saudi Arabia for now after rebuilding his confidence and goal threat on loan at Al-Diriyah, with Uruguay’s No.9 shirt also restored to him by Diego Forlán.
From Liverpool record signing to Saudi loan
- Núñez developed rapidly during spells with Almería in Spain and Benfica in Portugal, where he scored 34 goals in the 2021-22 season.
- Liverpool responded with a deal that could have reached £85 million ($114m), bringing the Uruguay forward to Anfield.
- He won the Premier League during three seasons with Liverpool, but did not reach 20 goals in any campaign and gradually lost his status as an automatic starter.
- As Liverpool reshaped their attack, Núñez accepted a high-value move to Al-Hilal in the summer of 2025.
- His situation changed within months when Al-Hilal signed Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. With the club’s foreign-player allocation full, Núñez could not be registered.
- A loan to Al-Diriyah offered him a route back into regular football, and he has contributed goals while becoming an important figure again for Uruguay.
Confidence central to Núñez revival
Former Uruguay midfielder Gustavo Poyet believes the forward’s decision to remain in the Saudi Pro League is understandable. He said Núñez’s initial move was driven by the scale of the contract, before Benzema’s arrival left him outside Al-Hilal’s eligible squad list.
Poyet added that Núñez appears likely to continue at Al-Diriyah while his contractual position remains intact. In his view, only personal circumstances, such as family or education considerations, may prompt the 27-year-old to reconsider his future in the near term.
The striker has also regained a prominent place with Uruguay. Forlán has handed Núñez the No.9 jersey again, a decision Poyet sees as significant for a player who responds strongly to faith and responsibility.
“Darwin needs confidence,” Poyet said. “You have to make him feel that he is the central striker.”
No immediate return to Europe
Núñez’s time at Liverpool brought scrutiny over missed opportunities despite the physical qualities that made him such an expensive signing: pace, strength and an ability to unsettle defences. His confidence diminished amid doubts over whether he could provide goals consistently at elite level.
A return to English or wider European football may yet become an option in future transfer windows, with established centre-forwards regularly in demand. For the moment, however, Núñez has no apparent urgency to end his Saudi Arabian spell while club minutes and international recognition are returning.
