FSG's internal pick Julian Ward eyes Liverpool sporting director role

Inside the glass‑walled office overlooking Anfield, Sport Felix Keith, Senior Sports Reporter, noted the buzz on Sep 22 2026 as Fenway Sports Group confirmed a new direction. Richard Hughes walked out of Liverpool earlier this month, swapping the Anfield hot seat for Saudi Arabian side Al‑Hilal, leaving a vacancy that FSG moved swiftly to fill.

Internal appointment confirmed

Fenway Group officials have reportedly decided on an internal appointment, naming Julian Ward as the club’s next sporting director. View 2 Images captured Ward alongside Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, underscoring the continuity plan. The process, overseen by FSG president Mike Gordon, is now said to be nearing its conclusion.

Ward’s Liverpool pedigree

Ward has been with Liverpool since 2012, progressing from European scouting manager for Spain and Portugal to loan pathways manager and assistant sporting director. He first became sporting director after Edwards’ summer 2022 exit, only to step down at the end of the 2022/23 season, shocking the club. Returning via FSG in 2024, he oversaw player‑development pathways before being called back to Anfield.

During his brief first spell as sporting director, Ward oversaw the arrivals of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, and later sealed the deal for Alexis Mac Allister in the summer of 2023, staying beyond his exit date to finalise the midfielder’s transfer.

David Woodfine will remain Liverpool’s assistant sporting director, reporting to Ward, while Pedro Marques, another internal candidate, stays on as FSG’s director of football development. The club also consulted external candidates, including Brentford technical director Lee Dykes, before opting for Ward.

Richard Hughes’ two‑year tenure at Liverpool was marked by big‑money signings. He orchestrated the £123 million acquisition of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint‑Germain and brought in Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Victor Munoz, Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo during the same summer. The slow‑burn nature of the window sparked friction, prompting Mark Burchill and Craig McKee to follow Hughes to Saudi Arabia.

Hughes’ departure followed Michael Edwards’ July resignation as chief executive officer of football at FSG. That summer also saw a consortium, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, acquire a third of the club. Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot after a successful spell at Bournemouth, expressed exasperation at the club’s net spend of £172 million.

The appointment signals FSG’s preference for continuity over external hunting, aiming to stabilise player recruitment after a turbulent transfer period. OUR LIVERPOOL supporters can now look to a familiar face to steer the next chapter of the club’s sporting strategy in Arabia and beyond.