The appointment of Hughes came as part of Al-Hilal's efforts to strengthen its football system and develop its sporting structure with specialized expertise. This will contribute to raising the quality of technical work, developing recruitment and scouting processes, and enhancing integration across all aspects related to the football sector.

The board of directors expressed its deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed bin Talal for funding the contracts of the sports management team, which is an extension of his exceptional support for Al-Hilal and his commitment to strengthening the club's structure with qualified talent, thus supporting its sporting journey and achieving its future aspirations.

Hughes began his football career as a player, representing several English clubs, most notably Bournemouth and Portsmouth, as well as the Scottish national team. After retiring as a player, he moved into administration, working in Bournemouth's recruitment department before becoming the club's sporting director in 2016. He then moved to Liverpool in 2024, taking on the same role during the team's Premier League title win in the 2024/25 season.

Al-Hilal's sporting management team, alongside Hughes, includes Englishman Simon Francis who serves as Football Technical Director, Scotsman Mark Burchill, Director of Recruitment; Scotsman Craig McKee, Director of Scouting; Englishman Harry Arter, Senior Technical Scout; and Saudi national Abdulhakim Al-Tuwaijri, Technical Director for Youth Teams.

The board of directors of Al Hilal Club wished Hughes and his team success in their tasks, in a way that contributes to achieving the club’s sporting goals, continuing to develop the football system, and enhancing Al Hilal’s competitiveness on all levels.