Darwin Núñez Set to Leave Al Hilal for Portugal

Darwin Núñez is edging towards the exit at Al Hilal, and the route out is becoming clearer by the day.

The Uruguayan striker is expected to leave the Saudi club on loan with an option to buy running until June 2027, a structure that gives all sides a way out if this next move finally clicks. He is currently with Al Hilal at their pre-season camp in Austria, but his mind has been elsewhere. Núñez has been pushing hard for a move, and he now has the green light to go under the proposed terms.

Portugal calling again

For a while, his name floated around some of Europe’s biggest offices. FC Barcelona looked at him as a low-cost alternative to Julián Álvarez, a potential stopgap who could offer depth and a different profile in attack. His representatives even put his name formally on the table. The Catalan club ran the numbers, weighed up the opportunity, and walked away. No offer, no negotiation, no late twist.

The real movement has come from a more familiar place.

According to Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah, Núñez is closing in on a return to Portugal, with Porto and Benfica emerging as the main contenders for his signature. For a player searching for rhythm and confidence, it is no coincidence that the Primeira Liga is pulling him back.

He initially tried to rip up his contract altogether and cut ties with Al Hilal. That battle ended in compromise. Instead of a termination, the parties have settled on a loan. As part of the arrangement, Núñez is ready to give up a portion of his salary, while Al Hilal will continue to pay a significant slice of his wages for one season. It is a financial balancing act designed to make a deal possible for Portuguese clubs who cannot match Saudi money.

Negotiations are active. All sides want the move wrapped up before Al Hilal fly back to Saudi Arabia on 3 August. The clock is ticking, and for once in Núñez’s turbulent recent career, the timeline is clear.

Back where it worked best

Portugal is not just another destination on a restless tour. It is where Núñez played the best football of his career.

Benfica beat Barcelona to his signing from Almería, paying €25 million in a deal that looked bold at the time and brilliant in hindsight. In Lisbon, he grew into a ruthless forward, stretching defences, scoring heavily, and turning himself into one of Europe’s most coveted strikers. That form earned him a move to Liverpool for more than €75 million, a transfer that underlined just how explosive his Benfica spell had been.

The step up to the Premier League never quite settled. He produced moments, goals, chaos, but never complete authority. The move to Saudi Arabia that followed has been even less convincing. He has struggled to impose himself and to feel at home, on and off the pitch.

That is why a return to Portugal carries more than nostalgia. It offers familiarity, a league that understands him, and a platform that once amplified his strengths.

Atlanta United in MLS asked the question. Besiktas did the same. Both clubs showed real interest but could not reach an agreement that suited Al Hilal, the player, and the finances involved. The Portuguese giants, by contrast, now stand in the front row.

Barcelona look elsewhere

Barcelona’s name will stay loosely attached to Núñez for as long as he remains on the market, but the reality is different. The club were offered the chance to take him on loan and chose not to move. Their attention remains fixed on Julián Álvarez, the preferred option for the role at the top of the attack.

Inside the club, there is a growing acceptance that prising Álvarez away may be beyond their reach, yet they have still not pivoted back to Núñez. For now, he is a path they have consciously left untaken.

So the road bends back towards Portugal. For Porto and Benfica, this is an opportunity to land a proven scorer with unfinished business in Europe. For Núñez, it feels like a career crossroads: another detour, or the moment he finally finds the version of himself that once lit up Lisbon?