Liverpool are finalising the appointment of Julian Ward as the club's new sporting director, elevating him from his current role as technical director to succeed Richard Hughes, who departed for Al-Hilal following the summer transfer window.
Liverpool Football Club is moving forward with the promotion of Julian Ward to the position of sporting director, marking a significant internal appointment by owners Fenway Sports Group. Ward, who has served as the club's technical director, emerged as the leading candidate for the role last week, and discussions to formalise his elevation are now at an advanced stage. He will take over from Richard Hughes, who left Anfield to take up a senior position at Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 summer transfer window.
The decision to appoint from within comes after FSG considered several high-profile external candidates for the post. Among those approached were Dougie Freedman, the former Crystal Palace sporting director currently at Al-Diriyah in the Saudi league, and Lee Dykes, technical director at Brentford — both regarded as experienced operators with strong reputations in recruitment and strategic planning. Ultimately, however, the club opted to promote from its existing leadership team, valuing Ward's deep knowledge of Liverpool's structure, player portfolio, and long-term planning framework.
Ward has been a key figure behind the scenes at Anfield, contributing to transfer strategy, talent identification, and contract negotiations during a period of sustained success and squad transformation. His continuity is expected to provide stability as Liverpool navigates the next phase of its development, including the upcoming winter and summer transfer windows. No official announcement has yet been issued, but the appointment is anticipated to be confirmed in the coming days, with Ward set to assume full responsibility for football operations alongside the club's management team.
Post a Comment