Darwin Núñez Joins Al-Diriyah – Not Turkey

Darwin Núñez has chosen his next stop – and it is not Turkey.

The Uruguayan striker is set to join Al-Diriyah from Al-Hilal in the current summer window, with a deal in place that shuts down Trabzonspor’s push to bring him to the Turkish league.

For days, Trabzonspor had chased the move, sensing an opportunity and selling a powerful story to their fans: Núñez back alongside Mohamed Salah, the pair reunited after their time together at Liverpool. The prospect lit up the terraces before it ever came close to reality.

That hope has been abruptly checked.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on X that Al-Hilal and Al-Diriyah have reached a verbal agreement over Núñez’s transfer. The framework is clear. Núñez will move to Al-Diriyah on loan until June 2027, with his salary fully covered during that spell. There is no option or obligation included for a permanent transfer.

So this is a long-term loan, not a clean break.

The agreement between the clubs is in place, but the formalities still stand between Núñez and his new shirt. Contracts must be signed, and the forward will undergo a medical before the move is officially announced.

For Trabzonspor, it is a sharp blow. The club had pushed hard and the fanbase had already begun to picture Salah feeding passes into Núñez in front of a packed stadium. Instead, the 25-year-old will extend his stay in Saudi Arabia, swapping Al-Hilal blue for Al-Diriyah colours and continuing his journey in a league that shows no sign of easing its grip on big-name forwards.