Liverpool have named Julian Ward as their new sporting director.
Ward previously held the role during the 2022-23 season and was responsible for the signings of Darwin Núñez, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.
He stepped down due to personal reasons. Richard Hughes took over as sporting director after joining from Bournemouth in the period after Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool exit. Hughes brought in Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola but left to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.
Now the role has been reoccupied by Ward who left the club in 2023 but has since worked as FSG's technical director. Ward originally joined Liverpool from Manchester City in 2012 in a role to manage the scouting of Spain and Portugal. Other jobs he held at Liverpool include loan pathways and football partnerships manager and assistant sporting director to Michael Edwards.
His newest role, however, is the most significant at a time when the spotlight is on Liverpool's transfer business. Their 2025 window, which included the British record signing of Alexander Isak, was criticised as "arguably the worst ever" by ex-Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher.