Julian Ward has returned to Liverpool as sporting director, working alongside manager Andoni Iraola after FSG brought him back from his role as the group’s technical director.
Ward left the sporting director post in summer 2023, with the role’s scope having shrunk under Jurgen Klopp’s influence at the club. Now, with Iraola in charge after a difficult 2025-26 season, Ward is back in the position to work more actively on recruitment and squad planning.
The pair have history. Ward was Liverpool’s scouting manager for Portugal and Spain in 2013 when he recommended Iraola, then at Athletic Club, as a potential signing for Brendan Rodgers. Iraola declined but thanked the club in writing, keeping the door open. Later, when Iraola was in the Spanish second division, he asked Ward for loan players when Ward held a different role at Liverpool, though those deals did not come off.
Iraola said Ward understands the club’s structure and will help beyond just transfer windows. Among Ward’s early tasks will be decisions on a cluster of out-of-contract players: captain Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru Endo all leave at the end of the season, as will Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo unless terms change.
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