Liverpool bring back Julian Ward as sporting director after Hughes exit
Liverpool have brought Julian Ward back to run their transfer business.
Ward is sporting director for a second time, starting straight away. Liverpool confirmed the appointment on 26 September 2026 Liverpool FC. He replaces Richard Hughes, who left Anfield after two and a half years to join Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League The Guardian.
A sporting director leads on signings, sales and long-term squad planning. It is one of the most important jobs behind the team you see on a Saturday. Ward knows it well at Liverpool.
He has worked for the club for 14 years. His roles have included European scouting manager, assistant sporting director and sporting director. He stepped up to replace Michael Edwards in 2022 and held the top job through the 2022-23 season.
That season he worked with then-manager Jurgen Klopp. A few months into the job, Ward told owners Fenway Sports Group, usually known as FSG, that he wished to step away for personal reasons. He left the role but stayed inside Liverpool's wider world.
His first spell was short but busy. Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Nunez all signed during that period. Those four went on to play big parts in Liverpool's attack and midfield.
Ward then spent the past two years as technical director for FSG. That kept him close to Liverpool's recruitment thinking without the day-to-day pressure of the Anfield job. FSG president Mike Gordon led the search for Hughes's replacement, and Ward emerged as the choice.
The move had been trailed. The Athletic reported earlier in September that Ward was likely to be the prime candidate once Hughes departed for Al-Hilal, a move also confirmed this month Reuters.
Ward will now lead the football operation alongside assistant sporting director David Woodfine, chief scout Barry Hunter, FSG director of football development Pedro Marques and the senior leadership team around Andoni Iraola. In plain terms, that group covers scouting, deals and the link between the boardroom and the training ground.
For fans, this means continuity rather than a fresh start. Ward knows the staff, the methods and the city. He does not need weeks to learn where everything is.
The change comes at a busy moment off the pitch. Former FSG chief executive of football Michael Edwards left in 2026. FSG is also in the process of selling a 38% stake in Liverpool to 1892 Holdings for £2bn. That consortium is fronted by Amit Bhatia and includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and it holds an option for a full takeover should FSG decide to sell.
