Darwin Nunez has been removed from Al Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad after Karim Benzema joined the club, highlighting the fierce competition for foreign player slots.
Saudi Pro League clubs can register only 10 foreign players in their 25-man squads, and Nunez was deregistered to make room for the French striker, who arrived from Al Ittihad earlier this month.
The decision limits Nunez to a maximum of five remaining league appearances this season, although he remains eligible for the AFC Champions League. The setback comes less than a year after he joined Al Hilal, raising questions about his long-term future in Saudi Arabia.
Nunez’s domestic exclusion is a blow to the 26-year-old, who will want to maintain his role as Uruguay’s lead striker ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The striker has made 16 league appearances this term, scoring six goals and contributing four assists. He was previously linked with a January move to Turkey, and a summer transfer back to Europe now appears plausible.
The Uruguayan joined Al Hilal after three seasons at Liverpool, where he arrived from Benfica for £85 million ($114 million). Despite a strong start in his first two seasons, scoring double figures, Nunez struggled under Arne Slot after Jurgen Klopp’s departure in 2024. Last season, he started only 17 of 47 appearances across all competitions, netting seven goals.
Upon leaving Liverpool, Nunez shared an emotional farewell: “Three years on, it’s time to say goodbye. I’ll take with me countless memories that will live with me forever…Liverpool will always be part of who I am.”
