Liverpool are searching for a fourth sporting director in four years after confirming that Richard Hughes has stepped down from the role.
Hughes's departure has been long expected, with the 47-year-old in line to take up a similar position with the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. He informed Liverpool of his intentions to leave early this year, after the departure of his friend Michael Edwards as chief executive of football for Fenway Sports Group, the club's owner.
Related: Isak's rapid double sinks Ipswich to give Andoni Iraola first Liverpool win
With work already under way on Liverpool's summer transfer targets – including the signing of Bradley Barcola in a £123m deal – and Hughes enjoying a close working relationship with the new head coach, Andoni Iraola, it was agreed he would continue in the role until the end of the transfer window.
Liverpool say no approach was received from Al-Hilal for Hughes to start work with them this summer and are satisfied the sporting director worked for them alone throughout this period.
The search for Hughes's replacement is already under way and is being led by FSG's president, Mike Gordon, who resumed the day-to-day running of the club after Edwards' exit. The eventual appointment will follow in the footsteps since Edwards left the role in 2022 of Julian Ward, Jörg Schmadtke and Hughes.
Liverpool's football structure will otherwise remain intact. That includes Ward as technical director for FSG and Pedro Marques as director of football development at FSG, the assistant sporting director, David Woodfine, the chief scout, Barry Hunter, plus the senior leadership team at the training centre.
