Liverpool Football Club has named Julian Ward as its new sporting director, taking over from Richard Hughes, who departed in September after serving in the position for just over two years.
Ward, 45, is returning to the role for a second time after previously serving as sporting director during the 2022-23 season under then-manager Jurgen Klopp. His initial departure came after he completed roughly one year of a three-year contract. Ward has maintained a connection with the club since joining in 2012 as a European scouting manager covering Spain and Portugal. He advanced to assistant sporting director in 2020 before being appointed sporting director in 2022, succeeding Michael Edwards. Most recently, he served as Fenway Sports Group’s technical director beginning in 2024, a position that involved overseeing player development pathways and academy operations for the past two years.
During his previous tenure as sporting director, Ward oversaw several high-profile acquisitions including Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister, and Darwin Nunez. He also played a significant role in contract negotiations, notably in Mohamed Salah’s 2022 renewal and contributed to the recruitment of Diogo Jota through his relationship with agent Jorge Mendes.
FSG president Mike Gordon commented on the appointment, stating that Ward’s extensive experience in the football industry and at Liverpool specifically made him the ideal candidate. Gordon noted that Ward’s expertise would strengthen the club’s football operations while providing necessary support to head coach Andoni Iraola.
Among Ward’s near-term responsibilities are securing a long-term contract for young player Rio Ngumoha, now 18 years old, and assessing contract extensions for key players including goalkeeper Alisson and defender Virgil van Dijk before their current agreements expire later this year.
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