Darwin Núñez has officially completed a loan move within the Saudi Pro League, joining promoted side Al-Diriyah from Al-Hilal until the end of the 2026–2027 season without an option to buy, according to reports verified by L’Équipe and Foot Mercato. The 27-year-old Uruguay international departs Al-Hilal just one year after his high-profile arrival from Liverpool, following a complex campaign in Riyadh that saw him fall out of favor under manager Simone Inzaghi.
The Path to Al-Diriyah and Why Núñez Left Al-Hilal
Signed from Liverpool in the summer of 2025 for a reported 53 million euros, Núñez struggled to secure a permanent foothold in Al-Hilal’s starting XI behind Karim Benzema, as detailed by L’Équipe. Despite that challenge, the forward managed to record 9 goals and 5 assists across 24 appearances during his debut campaign in Saudi Arabia. According to match records and local reporting, his final appearance for Al-Hilal came on February 16, when he scored a brace. Since that fixture, manager Simone Inzaghi omitted the striker from both the Saudi Pro League registration list and the King’s Cup squad, leaving him effectively sidelined for the remainder of the season.
https://x.com/Alhilal_EN/status/2091269182469923188
A potential escape route briefly emerged in the transfer market when Turkish side Trabzonspor targeted the forward, offering Núñez a chance to reunite with his former Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah. Ultimately, that deal failed to materialize, paving the way for domestic suitors to step in before Al-Hilal formalized the agreement with Al-Diriyah.
Official Confirmation and Club Terms
Al-Hilal confirmed the transaction through an official club communication. As cited by Foot Mercato, the statement read: « Le conseil d’administration du club Al Hilal, présidé par Son Altesse le prince Nawaf bin Saad, a approuvé le prêt du joueur uruguayen de l’équipe première de football Darwin Núñez au club Al Diriyah jusqu’à la fin de la saison sportive 2026/2027. »
🔹 الهلال يوافق على إعارة “داروين نونيز” إلى “الدرعية” 📄بالتوفيق، “داروين” 💙
— نادي الهلال السعودي (@Alhilal_FC) August 22, 2026
Squad Reinforcements at Al-Diriyah
At Al-Diriyah, based on the outskirts of Riyadh and managed by Portuguese coach Bruno Lage, Núñez joins a heavily revamped dressing room. The ambitious Saudi Pro League newcomers have moved aggressively in the transfer market to bolster their squad for the top-flight campaign. According to L’Équipe, Núñez will link up with former Ligue 1 attackers Gaëtan Laborde and Georges-Kévin Nkoudou. The club’s recruitment drive also brought in experienced internationals and rising talent, including Chancel Mbemba, Idrissa Gueye, Berat Djimsiti, Adil Boulbina, and Enzo Millot, who joined on loan from Al-Ahli.
For Núñez, who boasts 41 caps for the Uruguay national team, the move to Al-Diriyah provides an immediate opportunity to log regular minutes and regain the form that once made him one of Europe’s most feared penalty-box threats.
Next Steps in the Saudi Pro League
With his loan paperwork finalized and registration completed, Núñez is eligible to feature in Al-Diriyah’s upcoming league fixtures as the club continues its campaign in the Saudi top flight. Fans looking for further updates can follow Al-Diriyah’s official club channels and the Saudi Pro League match schedule for his potential debut.
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