“Darwin Núñez is preparing a surprising return to Liverpool this summer.”

Darwin Núñez is set to stage the most unexpected return of this summer’s transfer market: according to information reported this week by Uruguayan sources, the 26-year-old forward is very close to rejoining Liverpool, just a year after leaving Anfield for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. This turnaround has caught fans by surprise and promises to shake up movements in European football, at a time when Liverpool is compelled to react to the serious injury of striker Hugo Ekitike.

The Uruguayan international left Liverpool last summer in a transfer valued at £45 million, heading to the ambitious project at Al-Hilal. However, despite the investment, Núñez found himself excluded from the registration list for the second half of the 2025/26 season, following the arrival of veteran Karim Benzema, formerly of Al-Ittihad. The restrictions on foreign player slots in the Saudi squad ultimately pushed Núñez out of the coach’s options, leading the player to push for a contract termination that would facilitate his return to Europe.

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According to Uruguayan journalist Martin Chaquero, known for his close ties to the Uruguayan national team, “everything is agreed for Darwin Núñez to return to Liverpool.” This agreement comes at a time when the Reds are seeking immediate solutions to fill the prolonged absence of Ekitike, who is not expected to return to competition before 2027. Núñez thus emerges as the ideal alternative to Alexander Isak, expected to bolster the attack at a crucial stage of preparation for the new season.

Although negotiations between Núñez and Al-Hilal for his release are nearly finalized, the official confirmation of his return to Anfield is not expected to happen immediately. The player himself has requested discretion, prioritizing his focus on the Uruguayan national team’s campaign in the 2026 World Cup, which begins precisely against Saudi Arabia. “I want to keep my full focus on the national team. The rest can wait,” Núñez is reported to have confided to those close to him, at a time when both English and Uruguayan media are already considering the deal practically done.

It is worth noting that Darwin Núñez has scored 40 goals in 143 appearances for Liverpool since transferring from Benfica in 2022 for £64 million—an investment that quickly paid off with the winning of the Premier League in his last season before the Saudi adventure. At Anfield, his commitment and decision-making ability have made him one of the fans’ favorites, who are now eagerly anticipating the possibility of seeing him in red again.

The imminent return of Núñez to Liverpool could profoundly alter the balance of power in the Premier League. The new Reds coach, pressured by the demand for immediate results, sees this signing as a unique opportunity to bring back a forward with proven experience in English football, capable of ensuring goals and intensity from the first minute. If confirmed, this operation will represent not only a theatrical coup in the market but also a morale boost for a fanbase still digesting the recent departure of historic names.

The coming weeks will be decisive: Liverpool remains silent, but everything indicates that the official announcement will only happen after the World Cup. English rivals, attentive to developments, already fear the impact that Núñez’s return could have in a title race that promises to be fierce. For now, all attention is focused on the forward’s performance in the sky blue jersey, but no one doubts that Anfield is ready to open its doors once again to its prodigal son. The Núñez saga promises to be the major theme of this summer in European football.

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