Liverpool appoint Julian Ward as new sporting director after Richard Hughes exit

Liverpool have officially confirmed the return of Julian Ward to Anfield as the club's new sporting director. The English executive, who spent years working across different recruitment and planning departments at the club, takes over the position vacated by Richard Hughes earlier this month following his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

• Julian Ward takes charge of Liverpool's sporting direction after more than a decade connected to the club.
• Richard Hughes left the role at the start of the month to join Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
• Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon highlights the new director's knowledge and experience.
• Ward will play a key role in coordinating with head coach Andoni Iraola and the rest of the football structure.

Who is Julian Ward and what is his Liverpool background

Julian Ward is no stranger to Merseyside. He first arrived at Liverpool in 2012 and has since held responsibilities linked to player development strategy, recruitment and scouting. His work left a clear mark on major deals: he is credited with playing a significant role in the signings of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Alexis Mac Allister.

Before this appointment, Ward was working as technical director for Fenway Sports Group, the club's ownership group. That position gave him a broad view of the project and the transfer market, something Liverpool consider essential to maintaining the continuity of their sporting management model.

Richard Hughes leaves Anfield for Saudi Arabia

Richard Hughes stepped down as Liverpool sporting director at the beginning of the month. His next professional chapter takes him to Saudi Arabia, where he joins Al-Hilal, one of the strongest clubs in the Saudi Pro League and a regular player in the international transfer market.

His departure opened an important vacancy at the top of Liverpool's sporting structure. The club's response was swift: to back an internal profile with deep knowledge of the organisation rather than look for an outside hire.

How Ward will work with Andoni Iraola

The new sporting director will work in close contact with Andoni Iraola, the head coach of the first team. FSG president Mike Gordon stressed that Ward's knowledge and expertise will strengthen football operations and give the Basque coach the support he needs in his role on the touchline.

The knowledge and expertise Julian brings will only enhance our football operations, while also ensuring Andoni is provided with the support he requires as he continues to make such a positive impression as head coach.

Ward takes the lead of the football operation with a settled team around him. He will work on a daily basis with assistant sporting director David Woodbine, chief scout Barry Hunter and FSG director of football development Pedro Marques. The club see the appointment as a sign of faith in the people already working inside the football operation at Anfield.

Julian Ward's first words as sporting director

Ward expressed his gratitude for the trust shown by the ownership and admitted he understands first-hand the demands that come with such a position. After more than ten years inside Liverpool's football operation, he says he is fully aware of the challenges and ambitions of a club with Liverpool's history and present.

In his first public comments as sporting director, Ward spoke about an exciting period for the club, one in which change and opportunity go hand in hand while the culture and values that have underpinned Liverpool remain as strong as ever. He also highlighted the work carried out at the AXA Training Centre, the Academy and AXA Melwood.

In Andoni, together with the wider team of staff across the AXA Training Centre, the Academy and AXA Melwood, we have the expertise, talent and conditions required to keep driving the club forward.

The new sporting director closed his message by saying that building on those foundations and on the work overseen by football operations in recent seasons is both a huge responsibility and a privilege.

What this appointment means for Liverpool's project

The choice of Ward reinforces the sense of continuity at Liverpool. After years of success under the previous sporting direction, the club are backing someone who knows the internal processes, the market and the needs of the first team. It is not a change of direction, but another step within a structure FSG want to keep stable.

The immediate challenge is to support Iraola and keep Liverpool competitive across all competitions. With a top-level squad and a strengthened sporting structure, the club believe Ward's experience will make the difference in upcoming transfer windows and in medium-term planning.