Liverpool are set to appoint David Woodfine as assistant sporting director to Richard Hughes, as he returns to Anfield less than a year after leaving the club.

Woodfine had left the Reds at the end of last season, stepping down as director of loan management after replacing Julian Ward in the role following his own promotion to assistant sporting director in December 2020.

His departure brought an end to a nine-year stint with the club, having previously enjoyed three years as head of football projects and scouting operations after first joining Liverpool as scouting and recruitment coordinator in October 2014.

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But after a break from football, Woodfine is now returning to Anfield with the ECHO understanding that he was keen to be part of the football executive team behind the scenes that is continuing to be put together for the post-Jurgen Klopp era.

Woodfine will work closely with Hughes, with the former Scotland international set to officially start work as Liverpool’s new sporting director in June when his contract with AFC Bournemouth expires.

As reported by the ECHO last month, the 44-year-old has Cherries chief scout Mark Burchill lined up to join him at Anfield, while it has been reported elsewhere that fellow scout Craig McKee is also leaving the Vitality Stadium to join the Reds.

Meanwhile, Woodfine joins Michael Edwards in returning to Liverpool after the Reds’ former sporting director was appointed as Fenway Sports Group’s new CEO of Football.

While Woodfine originally joined Liverpool from West Ham United in 2014, having spent four years as the Hammers’ head of performance analysis, he first worked alongside Edwards at Portsmouth before first returning at Anfield.

Originally a performance analyst at the club from 2005 to 2009, which also coincided with Hughes' own time at Fratton Park as a player, he then spent a year as Pompey's head of performance analysis before moving to West Ham.

After finalising his own return to Liverpool, Edwards was keen to appoint Hughes as sporting director, having boasted a long-standing desire to work with the Scot with their professional and personal relationship spanning over 20 years back to their time at Portsmouth.

And with Woodfine now returning to the Reds, Edwards is completing another Pompey reunion at Anfield.

Elsewhere, the ECHO reported earlier this month that FSG are also closing in on the appointment of Benfica technical director Pedro Marques as part of their new-look football operation.

The Portuguese expected to take on responsibilities for player development and player pathways, similar to those of departing Liverpool elite development coach Vitor Matos.


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