- Darwin Núñez has only started 17 matches this season and scored just 7 goals
- Liverpool are reportedly avoiding triggering a €5 million bonus to Benfica
- The striker’s future at Anfield is unclear, with only five league games remaining
Key Takeaways
Darwin Núñez’ future at Liverpool appears increasingly uncertain. Arne Slot is reportedly not the biggest fan of the Uruguayan international, who has had an underwhelming season: 42 matches, only 17 starts, and just 7 goals.
Núñez has not started a game for a month and a half. In that time, he has played only 68 minutes and scored one goal—against Southampton in the Premier League. Since then, he has featured in four matches as a substitute and remained on the bench for the most recent fixture against Leicester.
Liverpool are close to securing the league title and are not dependent on Darwin Núñez. There is growing speculation that the club might be applying a strategy aimed at saving €5 million—an amount linked to a clause in the transfer agreement with Benfica from June 2022. Back then, Núñez was transferred for €75 million, but the total could rise to €100 million with bonuses.
Liverpool would have to pay Benfica another €5m (£4.3m) for the 2022 transfer of Darwin Nunez whenever the Uruguayan makes his 50th Premier League start for the Reds [@abolapt]
He's currently on 49 top-flight starts for LFC… pic.twitter.com/YQKgiR5jv2
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) April 22, 2025
So far, Benfica have already received an additional €10 million in bonuses connected to Núñez’ appearances. The Portuguese side earned €5 million when the striker started 10 matches in either the Premier League or the Champions League. The counter reset, and when he registered another 25 starts in those same competitions—something that happened by the end of 2023—Benfica collected another €5 million, bringing the transfer sum to €85 million.
That counter has now reset again and currently stands at 24 starts. Benfica are just one Premier League start away from receiving an additional €5 million and bringing the total to €90 million. However, the problem for the Lisbon club is that Liverpool are already out of the Champions League, and only five Premier League matches remain.
If Darwin Núñez leaves Liverpool at the end of the season, Benfica’s window for collecting that bonus would close. While only the club knows for sure whether the striker’s limited playing time is due to coaching preferences or internal policy, the outcome could directly affect Benfica’s finances.
Liverpool’s remaining opponents are Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, and Crystal Palace. Núñez is fully fit and has been part of recent squads, so for now, Benfica can only wait and hope to see him start one more match.