Darwin Nunez

Darwin Núñez began his youth career at La Luz, spending a year there before moving to another local club, San Miguel. At 14 years old, he moved to the capital of Uruguay to join the youth setup at Peñarol, but due to homesickness, he returned home within a year.

He eventually rejoined Peñarol and, despite suffering a potentially career-ending ACL injury at 17, he overcame the setback with determination. This period of hardship also saw his brother retire from football to help support the family financially. Núñez successfully recovered and made his first-team debut in November 2017, playing 14 games and scoring 4 goals.

In August 2019, Spanish second-division club Almería smashed their transfer record to sign Núñez for €12 million. He made an immediate impact, scoring 16 goals in 30 league games, helping Almería narrowly miss out on promotion.

His standout performances caught the attention of Portuguese giants Benfica, who broke their own transfer record to sign him for a reported €24 million. Although injuries and COVID-19 affected his debut campaign, Núñez still finished with an impressive 26 goal contributions in 44 games.

May 2021 saw Núñez undergo knee surgery, which kept him sidelined for the start of the new season. Upon his return in August, he was named the league's best player for his stellar performances that month. By February, he had 20 goals in as many games, and his double against Liverpool in the Champions League in April caught the eye of then-manager Jürgen Klopp.

Núñez finished the season with 34 goals in 41 appearances, including 5 in the Champions League. He also helped Benfica secure a league title and was deservedly named Player of the Season.

In June 2022, Liverpool announced the signing of Núñez on a club-record £85 million deal, including add-ons, breaking the previous transfer record set by Virgil van Dijk. Expectations were high for the young Uruguayan to become an instant hit. His first season was promising, as he scored 15 goals in all competitions.

However, it became evident that Núñez was still a raw talent in need of refinement. He was sent off in his full home debut for a headbutt on Joachim Andersen, a moment that highlighted the weight of the price tag and the pressure he was under.

The unfortunate reality is that Darwin Núñez’s time at Anfield has not panned out as hoped. Despite moments of brilliance, he has often struggled with low confidence, missing several crucial chances in the 2023-2024 season, which could have made a significant difference in Liverpool’s push for the league title. Although he has managed to score a few important goals, his inconsistency in front of goal has been a recurring issue.

When Arne Slot took over as manager in the summer of 2024, one of his key objectives was reportedly to get the best out of Núñez, as Liverpool did not want to see their substantial investment go to waste. However, the Uruguayan’s struggles continued, and his time at the club has been marred by unsavory incidents that have led to unrest among the fanbase. Núñez has often cut a divisive figure since his arrival, with some fans frustrated by his inability to live up to expectations.

In January 2025, he came close to leaving for Saudi Arabia, with a deal reportedly close to being agreed. However, the transfer ultimately fell through after the club decided against making significant changes to a squad that was in the midst of a strong title charge. Despite now being a Premier League champion, it is widely expected that Núñez will depart Liverpool in the summer, having struggled for game time in the 2024-2025 season.

  • 24 June 1999

  • Uruguayan

  • Premier League (2024-25)

    Carabao Cup (2024)

    FA Community Shield (2022)

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