Darwin Nunez will become a free agent this summer after Al Hilal and the Uruguayan striker mutually terminated his contract. The 26-year-old joined the Saudi Pro League club for €53 million last summer but has now been released just twelve months into his deal, making him available at no cost to interested parties ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Nunez's departure from Saudi Arabia stems directly from the league's strict foreign-player regulations. Al Hilal was forced to limit its overseas contingent to ten players following Karim Benzema's arrival in February, with only eight permitted over the age of 20. The Frenchman's signing created a logjam that left no room for the Liverpool export, triggering the contract termination.
Benzema's Impact and Nunez's Struggles
The timing proved particularly damaging for Nunez's development. Before his suspension from Saudi Pro League action in the winter window, the striker managed just nine goals and five assists across 22 appearances—figures that failed to justify his €85 million price tag from his original Liverpool transfer. In sharp contrast, Benzema arrived and matched those exact statistics in only 12 matches, highlighting the disparity in form and efficiency between the two forwards.
Nunez has not featured in competitive club football since 16 February, when he scored twice in an AFC Champions League group-stage match. His absence during Al Hilal's round-of-16 elimination in April raised serious concerns about his international future, as the Copa America approaches this summer. Though he made substitute appearances in friendly matches against England and Algeria, question marks remain over whether the Uruguayan has done enough to retain his place in the national squad.
Premier League Return Possibility
Several top-flight clubs are now monitoring Nunez's availability. Both Newcastle United and Chelsea have registered interest in acquiring the forward on free terms, presenting him with a potential Premier League return after his brief stint in the Middle East. At 26, Nunez still has years of elite football ahead of him, and a move back to England could revitalize a career that stalled in Saudi Arabia. The coming weeks will prove decisive as clubs weigh up the prospect of bringing the striker back to English football without a transfer fee.
