Julian Ward returns as Liverpool sporting director after Hughes exit 2026

Key Points

• Liverpool FC have named Julian Ward as their new sporting director effective immediately on 26 September 2026.
• Ward was already in the same position last season where he recruited Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, and Alexis Mac Allister among others.
• The club says he has replaced Richard Hughes who quit recently to move to Al-Hilal from Saudi Pro League.
• Ward was selected after an ownership-led hunt for a successor led by Mike Gordon of FSG.
• Ward said he understands the job well and lauded the team’s culture and vision.
• According to the owners of FSG, Ward has the ability to improve football operations in the team and support head coach Andoni Iraola.
• This is against the backdrop of some restructuring that is going on in the club such as the part sale of shares to a consortium that includes Jeff Bezos and the exit of Michael Edwards from the football leadership of FSG.

Liverpool Sports (Liverpool standard) September 26, 2026 — The club has officially reappointed Julian Ward as sporting director, ending weeks of speculation over the successor to Richard Hughes and signalling a return to an internal, continuity-focused model at the top of its football operation. Ward, 45, begins the role with immediate effect and will work closely with head coach Andoni Iraola, the recruitment team and the academy structure as Liverpool navigate a period of significant off-field change.

What has Liverpool announced about Julian Ward’s return?

Liverpool FC confirmed in a short statement on its official website that “Julian Ward has been appointed the club’s sporting director”, adding that he takes up the position “with immediate effect”. The announcement came after The Athletic first reported on 22 September that Ward had emerged as Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) preferred candidate, with an ownership-led process “advancing towards its conclusion”. By Saturday morning, multiple outlets including ESPN, the BBC and the Telegraph were reporting the appointment as confirmed, with Liverpool’s own site posting the news under its “Breaking” section.

In a quote published on the club website, Ward said:

“I am incredibly excited to take on this role and it goes without saying that I am hugely grateful for the trust that has been placed in me by ownership.”

He added: “Having been part of Liverpool’s football operation for more than a decade, I have a full appreciation and first-hand knowledge of the challenge that comes with the position, as well as a clear understanding of the demands and ambitions of this great club.” Ward described the current moment as “an exciting period for Liverpool – on and off the pitch – in which change and opportunity go hand in hand”, while stressing that the club’s “culture, values and principles” remain strong.

FSG president Mike Gordon, who led the search for Hughes’ replacement, said Ward’s “knowledge and expertise” would “enhance our football operations” and ensure head coach Andoni Iraola “is provided with the support he requires”. Gordon added that Ward’s appointment represented “the continuation of a long-standing relationship which has always served Liverpool well”.

Who is Julian Ward and what did he do in his first stint?

Julian Ward first joined Liverpool in 2012 from Manchester City as European scouting manager for Spain and Portugal, before moving into roles covering loan pathways and football partnerships, according to reporting by The Athletic and ESPN. He was promoted to assistant sporting director in December 2020, working alongside Michael Edwards, and then succeeded Edwards as sporting director in 2022.

During his season as sporting director in 2022–23, Ward oversaw a busy recruitment window that included the arrivals of Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo, as well as the later completion of Alexis Mac Allister’s move from Brighton in summer 2023, which he helped finalise even after indicating his intention to leave the role. As reported by The Athletic’s James Pearce, Ward was also central to the decision to step back from a prolonged pursuit of Jude Bellingham, concluding that the club’s resources were better deployed across multiple midfield targets rather than a single marquee signing.

Ward left the sporting director post at the end of the 2022–23 campaign and in 2024 moved into an FSG technical director role, where he oversaw player development pathways and the academy. Plans for him to lead football operations at another FSG-owned club were subsequently shelved after the group paused its multi-club expansion ambitions, according to The Athletic.

Why did Richard Hughes leave and how was his successor chosen?

Richard Hughes officially departed Liverpool on 5 September 2026 after two-and-a-half years in the sporting director role, before joining former colleague Simon Francis at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, as reported by The Athletic and echoed by BBC Sport. Two other recruitment staff, Mark Burchill and Craig McKee, also left to follow Hughes to Al-Hilal, according to The Athletic.

In the wake of Hughes’ exit, FSG president Mike Gordon led an ownership-driven search that considered both internal and external candidates, with The Athletic noting that Ward quickly emerged as the leading internal option. BBC Sport reported that FSG was “minded to make an internal appointment” and that Ward’s promotion was being finalised. By 22 September, The Athletic’s David Ornstein wrote that Ward was the “preferred option” and that the process was nearing completion; four days later Liverpool confirmed the appointment.

What are Ward’s immediate priorities at Liverpool?

As reported by ESPN and The Athletic, Ward’s immediate tasks include shaping transfer strategy in upcoming windows, managing key contract situations and aligning recruitment with Andoni Iraola’s tactical model. ESPN noted that Ward will need to help decide the futures of senior players including Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker while also targeting new faces to fit the head coach’s system. The Athletic outlined that Ward would be expected to resolve a series of “big issues” over the coming year, including squad planning, contract renewals and maintaining continuity after the departures of Hughes, Edwards and other recruitment staff.

FSG’s statement positioned Ward as a figure who can provide stability during a transitional period at ownership level, with a consortium including US billionaire Jeff Bezos agreeing to acquire close to 40 per cent of the club in August, pending regulatory approval. Michael Edwards stepped down as FSG’s CEO of football in July, and Gordon has resumed day-to-day oversight of Liverpool’s operations, according to The Athletic.

How have media and analysts reacted to Ward’s appointment?

Reaction from journalists and analysts has largely framed Ward’s return as a continuity play at a time of upheaval. Writing for The Athletic, Liverpool correspondent James Pearce said the appointment “makes a lot of sense” and would provide “much needed continuity” after the summer exits of Edwards and Hughes. Pearce noted that Ward “commands the respect” of Mike Gordon and is “well connected across the globe” with experience in both transfer negotiations and contract renewals.

The Telegraph described the move as a “reappointment to the role he previously held in the 2022–23 season”, underlining the familiar nature of the hire. ESPN’s coverage highlighted Ward’s prior responsibility for major signings such as Darwin Núñez and Alexis Mac Allister, while also noting the broader context of leadership change at FSG and within Liverpool’s recruitment department. BBC Sport reported that Ward was a “leading candidate” and that FSG preferred an internal solution, framing the decision as part of a broader pattern of continuity at the club.

Background: How did this development unfold?

The path to Ward’s reappointment began with Richard Hughes’ decision to leave Liverpool for Al-Hilal earlier in September 2026, creating a vacancy at the top of the club’s football operation. In the days that followed, The Athletic and BBC Sport identified Ward as a leading internal candidate, with FSG president Mike Gordon overseeing the search. By 22 September, The Athletic reported that Ward was the preferred option and that the process was close to conclusion; Liverpool then confirmed the appointment on 26 September via its official website and a press release.

This development sits within a wider period of change at Liverpool, including the partial sale of the club to a consortium including Jeff Bezos, the departure of Michael Edwards from FSG’s football leadership and the exit of several recruitment staff to Saudi Arabia. Ward’s return is therefore both a staffing decision and a signal that FSG wishes to stabilise the football operation with a known quantity during a transitional ownership phase.

Prediction: How could Ward’s return affect Liverpool supporters and the squad?

For Liverpool supporters, Ward’s reappointment is likely to be read as a bid for stability in recruitment and contract policy after a summer of high-profile departures from the football operation. Given his prior involvement in deals for players such as Núñez, Mac Allister and Gakpo, fans may expect a continuation of a data-informed, multi-target approach to transfers rather than reliance on single marquee signings. If Ward successfully aligns recruitment with Andoni Iraola’s tactical demands and manages key contract renewals, supporters could see a more coherent squad-building strategy over the next two windows.

For the squad, the main impact is likely to be felt in the clarity of recruitment profiles and the handling of senior contracts. A sporting director who knows the club’s structures and has existing relationships across agents and clubs may accelerate negotiations and reduce uncertainty around long-term planning. However, as noted by analysts, Ward will also face scrutiny over past hits and misses in the transfer market, meaning his decisions in the coming windows will be closely watched by both the fanbase and the ownership group.