After playing a key role in helping Liverpool secure a historic Premier League title under Arne Slot, Darwin Núñez made a surprising career move by joining the Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal.
The Uruguayan forward completed a £46 million transfer to the Riyadh-based club, becoming yet another high-profile player to make the switch to the Middle East following his time in Europe.
Since arriving at Al Hilal, Núñez has made a decent start to life in Saudi Arabia. In just eight appearances for his new team, he has already found the back of the net four times and provided two assists.
His contract with the Saudi outfit runs until 2028, suggesting the club views him as a long-term investment.
However, despite settling in fairly well, recent reports have begun circulating about the possibility of Núñez making an unexpected return to the Premier League sooner than anyone anticipated.
The speculation was further fueled by comments from former French World Cup winner Marcel Desailly. The ex-Chelsea and AC Milan defender, who made over 220 appearances for the Blues during his playing career, openly expressed his belief that Núñez would be an ideal signing for Chelsea.
Desailly argued that the Uruguayan striker possesses the right qualities to lead Chelsea’s front line — a position the London club has struggled to fill consistently over the past few seasons.
Chelsea’s ongoing search for a reliable number nine has been well-documented. The club’s attempts to solve the problem have seen them bring in players like João Pedro and Liam Delap during the summer, while young forwards such as Marc Guiu and Tyrique George have also been given opportunities.
Yet, none have managed to completely convince that they can be the long-term solution. Desailly believes Núñez could change that.
“Núñez for me was perfect — spot on,” Desailly said during an interview with OLGB. “He’s young, and even though things didn’t fully work out for him at Liverpool, the fact that they signed him in the first place shows that they saw real potential.
I would have loved to see him at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca’s system, which could have helped him thrive with confidence. He wouldn’t even have been too expensive in today’s market. If things aren’t working for him in Saudi Arabia, he could be the one to come back.”
Núñez first joined Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 for an initial £64 million, arriving with massive expectations as the successor to Sadio Mané.
While his work rate and energy impressed fans, he struggled with consistency in front of goal, managing a best Premier League tally of 11 goals during the 2023/24 season. Despite mixed performances, it’s clear many still believe Núñez’s Premier League story might not be over yet — and a return to England could be on the horizon.
