Darwin Nunez set to become one of the highest paid players in world football as wages at Al-Hilal 'leaked'

Darwin Nunez is set to become one of the highest-paid players in world football when he signs for Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.

Al Hilal have reached an agreement in principle to sign the 26-year-old striker from Liverpool, according to The Athletic, who claim a deal worth €53 million [£46.2m] plus add-ons has been struck verbally following weeks of speculation.

Liverpool will take a financial hit on Nunez, who joined the Reds from Benfica in the summer of 2022 for an initial £64 million plus add-ons, while the Uruguayan is set to almost triple his current £140,000-a-week wage.

A report from talkSPORT claims the player will earn an eye-watering £400,000-a-week wage at Al Hilal, which will make him one of the highest-paid players in the Saudi Pro League and beyond.

To put his proposed wage into perspective, Capology suggests Nunez is set to take home more than Virgil van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes and Lamine Yamal, and will earn the same amount as Mohamed Salah and Vinicius Junior.

Liverpool are said to have turned down an approach from Al Hilal in January worth in the region of £70 million, but it appears the Saudi Pro League outfit will seal a move for their priority target in the coming days.

On Wednesday evening, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano provided an update on Nunez's situation.

"Darwin Núñez to Al Hilal, here we go!" he wrote on X. "Verbal agreement has been completed between all parties. €53m plus add-ons to Liverpool as revealed today, 3 year deal for Núñez. Núñez said yes and Inzaghi only wanted him. Medical next."

Jamie Carragher predicted Darwin Nunez exit last season

Nunez failed to set the Premier League alight in 2024/25, and by December, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher had made a telling prediction on an episode of The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.

"We said we don’t know what he is going to do, so how will the defenders?" he said. "Nobody ever says that about a good player, do they? I’m not sure he will be here next season, I think Liverpool will move him on."

Nunez could have played his last game for Liverpool. Image credit: Getty

Ian Wright, the former Arsenal striker who sat alongside Carragher on the episode, admitted he expected more from Nunez.

"I never know what is going to happen with Nunez when he goes through," Wright added. "I would’ve thought for that price we would have seen a lot more from him by now. It is not going to be any different to what he is now."

Thoughts on Nunez's future? Let us know in the comments.