Julian Ward Is Back: Grading Every Transfer Deal Liverpool's Returning Sporting Director Has Masterminded

Liverpool's hunt for a new sporting director has led them back to a recognizable name: Julian Ward.

Following the exit of predecessor Richard Hughes earlier this month — a departure celebrated by a significant portion of the fanbase — the Reds are now in the midst of identifying his replacement.

The Athletic has reported that Ward is set to reclaim the sporting director role, a position he previously occupied during the 2022–23 season before departing the club altogether.

Having rejoined Liverpool as technical director in 2024, Ward will once again be responsible for steering the club's recruitment strategy going forward.

But how did he perform during his previous tenure? Here's a breakdown and ranking of the seven signings the 45-year-old led.

7. Arthur Melo

Anyone hoping to collect a matchworn Arthur Melo Liverpool shirt will find the search nearly impossible. The Brazilian managed just a single senior appearance on Merseyside, as injuries turned his loan spell into a complete disaster.

The midfielder's 13-minute substitute appearance in a heavy 4–1 loss to Napoli was his only outing for the first team, as a training-ground injury requiring surgery ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Arthur, formerly of Barcelona, joined on a temporary basis from Juventus to address Liverpool's midfield injury crisis at the start of the 2022–23 campaign, only to quickly add to the club's growing injury list himself.

Even by emergency deadline day standards, this signing was an exceptional failure.

6. Calvin Ramsay

Liverpool were fully aware they were buying into potential rather than proven quality with Calvin Ramsay. The right back had turned heads at Aberdeen, enough to convince the Reds to part with $5.5 million for the then 18-year-old.

The youngster was eased into the club's academy setup during his first season on Merseyside, featuring in just two senior matches. But, similarly to Arthur, injuries would go on to derail his time at the club.

An early loan at Preston North End was cut short by fitness problems, and he subsequently missed 264 days of action following knee surgery in February 2023.

After regaining full fitness, loan spells at Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, and Kilmarnock all failed to ignite his career, and he's currently playing for St. Mirren ahead of what looks like an unavoidable Liverpool exit when his deal runs out next year.

5. Fábio Carvalho

Liverpool's appetite for young British talent extended beyond Ramsay. The club also put in considerable effort to land versatile attacker Fábio Carvalho from Fulham, who eventually completed his move in the summer of 2023 after a deal the previous January collapsed at the last moment.

Liverpool opted against loaning Carvalho out in his first season, but an early run of appearances in a midfield role under Jürgen Klopp gradually faded away.

He managed only two Premier League starts after Christmas in the 2022–23 season, before a disappointing loan at RB Leipzig was partially salvaged by a strong stint at Hull City the following year.

Even so, Liverpool decided he had no long-term future at the club upon his return, selling him for a substantial profit in 2024 as Brentford paid $25.5 million — a transfer that has yet to bear fruit for the Bees.

4. Darwin Núñez

Ah, Darwin Núñez — Liverpool's agent of chaos.

While Ward oversaw the Uruguayan striker's arrival in 2022, it was reportedly Klopp who pushed hardest to get the deal done. Núñez had clearly left a lasting impression on the German after scoring in both legs against Liverpool in the Champions League with Benfica the season prior.

The Reds committed an initial $78.6 million to sign him, a fee that felt increasingly steep by the time he departed at the conclusion of the 2024–25 Premier League title-winning season.

There were undeniably exciting moments during Núñez's time at the club, including 31 goal contributions in Klopp's final campaign, but a lack of consistency remained his biggest obstacle at Anfield. Glaring close-range misses and moments of petulance were far too common, even if his highlight reel featured some genuinely spectacular finishes.

Now playing in Saudi Arabia, it's ultimately a story of unfulfilled potential.

3. Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo's time on Merseyside has been anything but straightforward. Arriving midway through a disappointing 2022–23 campaign, the Dutchman's Liverpool career has been defined by hot streaks and prolonged dry spells.

At present, Gakpo is thriving in the early stages of the Andoni Iraola era, though last season proved considerably more challenging. He managed just nine goals across 52 appearances and frequently drew criticism from supporters for uninspiring displays.

Yet, as the former PSV Eindhoven winger demonstrated across his first two full seasons at Liverpool, he can be a genuine menace when firing on all cylinders — most notably in the 2024–25 campaign, when he contributed 18 goals across all competitions.

Gakpo remains a polarizing figure at Anfield, but he still has the opportunity to reshape his legacy at the club. Acquired for $45 million, he has represented reasonable value so far.

2. Luis Díaz

With both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United sniffing around Luis Díaz, Ward's move to fast-track Liverpool's pursuit of the rising Colombian winger proved to be an unquestionably astute call.

Although he wasn't officially the club's sporting director at the time, Ward is widely credited with driving the Díaz transfer and championing the $50 million deal.

The winger arrived midway through the 2021–22 season and injected fresh energy into the Reds as they claimed both domestic cups and reached the Champions League final. An injury the following campaign set him back only briefly, and he bounced back strongly in 2023–24.

Díaz's finest season at Anfield, however, was his last — contributing to 18 goals on the way to the Premier League title before Liverpool sold him to Bayern Munich. That decision has since been viewed with regret (and was made during a period when Ward was no longer sporting director).

1. Alexis Mac Allister

Ward actually extended his time beyond his planned departure as sporting director specifically to see through Liverpool's signing of Alexis Mac Allister — and for that, the club owes him considerable gratitude.

The Argentina international was brought in from Brighton & Hove Albion for an initial fee of just $43.6 million, a deal that has proven to be exceptional business despite the midfielder enduring a difficult spell last season.

Mac Allister swiftly established himself as a key component of the Klopp system before flourishing further under Slot, playing a pivotal role in Liverpool's second Premier League title triumph with his combination of tenacity, technical quality, and a knack for scoring at critical moments.

Given the modest outlay relative to the enormous impact delivered, Mac Allister stands as Ward's most shrewd piece of business — and with time still on his side, there's every chance he'll add further chapters to his Anfield story.