Richard Hughes expected to join Simon Francis at Al Hilal | OneFootball

Simon Francis has joined Al Hilal and is leading their transfer work, with Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes expected to link up with his former colleague at the Saudi Pro League club.

On 18 March, The Athletic reported that the 47-year-old had been identified by Al Hilal for a summer move, although he has yet to sign any agreement.

Hughes is under contract at Liverpool until June 2027 and is focused on this summer’s recruitment, supporting new head coach Andoni Iraola throughout the window.

Given his deal, this would naturally be his final window before a transition that allows a successor to settle at Anfield. Al Hilal and Francis are operating on the basis that Hughes will arrive in Riyadh in due course.

Francis replaced Hughes as Bournemouth’s technical director after the former Scotland international midfielder moved to Anfield, and he has now left the south-coast club to take a similar role at Al Hilal. The pair were team-mates at Bournemouth and later colleagues in the club’s technical department.

In April, Saudi’s Public Investment Fund sold a 70 per cent stake in Al Hilal to Kingdom Holding Company, valuing the club at SAR1.4 billion, £276 million, $373 million.

Al Hilal are coached by former Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi.

Source: NY Times