Papers: Nunez set for Premier League return after Al Hilal axing?
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Darwin Nunez: Former Liverpool Striker Heading Back to the Premier League After Being Axed by Al-Hilal? - Paper Talk
Key Transfer Rumors: Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been dramatically removed from Al-Hilal's Saudi Pro League squad due to foreign player limits after the club signed Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, according to Daily Mail reports.[1][2][5]
Nunez, who joined Al-Hilal last summer for £46 million following a Premier League title win with Liverpool (40 goals in 143 appearances), can still play in the AFC Champions League but faces extended sidelining in domestic competitions—potentially just five more games this season.[2][3] His 2025/26 stats show 6 goals and 4 assists in 16 appearances (14% conversion rate, 14 big chances missed, 209 minutes per goal), a mixed bag underperforming his 11.48 xG.[2]
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 16 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 4 |
| xG | 11.48 |
This axing echoes Roberto Firmino's past exit from Al-Hilal and marks a swift downturn—reports just a week prior linked Nunez to Fenerbahce. Speculation now swirls around a Premier League return, with his situation unstable.[1][2][4]
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(Thursday, 12 February 2026) | Published by Sky Sports[1]