Darwin Núñez Chooses Al-Diriyah Over Turkey

Darwin Núñez has made his choice – 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 late push and the prospect of a reunion with Mohamed Salah.

Saudi stay over Turkish reunion

Trabzonspor had moved aggressively in recent days, sensing an opportunity. The pitch was clear and emotional: bring Núñez to the Turkish Super Lig and reunite him with Salah, the former Liverpool teammate with whom he shared a dressing room on Merseyside.

That prospect lit up sections of the Trabzonspor support, who had already started to imagine the pair in claret and blue. The dream has not survived the week.

The transfer picture snapped into focus when Fabrizio Romano reported on X that Al-Hilal and Al-Diriyah have reached a verbal agreement for Núñez to move to the Saudi club.

Long loan, no buy option

The structure of the deal is striking. Núñez will join Al-Diriyah on loan until June 2027, with his salary fully covered for the duration of the spell. There is no clause included for a permanent transfer at the end of that period.

So this is not a clean break. It is a long-term commitment to a new shirt, but not a final one.

Both clubs have an agreement in place, but the move is not signed off yet. Contracts still need to be completed, and arrangements are being put together for Núñez to undergo his medical before the switch is made official.

Blow for Trabzonspor, boost for Al-Diriyah

For Trabzonspor, this is a heavy hit. Their pursuit had gathered momentum, and the idea of Núñez linking up with Salah again had given the fanbase a jolt of optimism.

Instead, the 25-year-old will continue his journey in Saudi Arabia, trading Al-Hilal blue for an Al-Diriyah shirt and extending his stay in a league that keeps tightening its grip on high-profile forwards.

The reunion story fades. The Saudi project rolls on.