Confirmed, 26 September: Liverpool have officially appointed Julian Ward as their sporting director. PremClub first reported his return on 24 September, two days before the club’s announcement.
Ward, 45, returns to the role he held during the 2022/23 season, when he succeeded Michael Edwards. He replaces Richard Hughes, who left after the summer transfer window and has since been unveiled as sporting director at Al-Hilal.
It is an appointment from within. Ward has spent more than a decade at the club and has been Fenway Sports Group’s technical director since 2024, overseeing player development and global talent strategy.
FSG president Mike Gordon, who led the search for Hughes’ successor, described Ward as the “ideal candidate” and said his experience will make sure head coach Andoni Iraola gets the support he needs. Ward said he was “incredibly excited” to take the job on again.
He now leads Liverpool’s big football decisions, including transfers and contracts, working alongside assistant sporting director David Woodfine, chief scout Barry Hunter and FSG director of football development Pedro Marques.
The move comes during a period of change at the top, with FSG selling a 38 percent stake in the club to 1892 Holdings, a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, in a deal worth more than £2 billion that is still being ratified.
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