Former sports director Michael Edwards has agreed to return to Liverpool FC as the club’s head of football operations.

Merseyside reporters, including Paul Joyce of the Times, confirmed the news, which broke on Tuesday morning following indications over the weekend that a deal was imminent.

 

Edwards’ return is a significant win for owners Fenway Sports Group, who persuaded the 44-year-old to return to Anfield two years after leaving the club.

While working as sporting director, Edwards was instrumental in the club’s turnaround, managing the signings of Mohamed Salah, Alisson, Fabinho, Sadio Mane, and Virgil van Dijk.

He also negotiated high compensation for outgoing players, most notably Philippe Coutinho’s move to Barcelona.

 

Richard Hughes, who is expected to join the club from Bournemouth, will take over as sporting director upon his return.

Hughes has been Bournemouth’s technical director for nearly a decade, but he announced his departure earlier in March.

Who is Richard Hughes? Liverpool’s next sporting director, Edwards, has declined offers from Manchester United and Chelsea since leaving the club in summer 2022. It is believed that his departure was due to increased influence given to manager Jurgen Klopp over trades and contracts.

With Klopp leaving the club in three months, Edwards will now oversee the appointment of Klopp’s replacement, with Xabi Alonso widely seen as the front-runner.

For fans, the trio of Edwards, Hughes, and Alonso appears to be a very astute foundation from which Liverpool can establish a new era post-Klopp.

 

According to Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph, luring Edwards back to Liverpool is a coup for FSG and marks the culmination of a long period of negotiations overseen by John W. Henry and Michael Gordon.

“Gordon, another vital component moving forward who remains in charge of club strategy, was determined to bring Edwards back and considered it of paramount importance given the huge void that will be left by Klopp.”