Edwards leaves FSG and Liverpool ahead of new season

Michael Edwards’ exit from Liverpool and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) marks the end of a 15-year association with the club, one defined by strategic appointments, record transfers and a single league title. His departure, confirmed by FSG on 10 July 2026, arrives ahead of the 2026/27 season and follows a planned transition that began when he returned in March 2024 to oversee football operations after Jürgen Klopp’s exit. Edwards leaves with a year remaining on his contract, having helped oversee Liverpool through a period that included the club’s 20th league title in 2025 under Arne Slot, only for the Dutchman to be replaced by Andoni Iraola this summer after a disappointing second season.

What Edwards leaves behind

Edwards’ first spell at Liverpool ran from 2011 to 2022, initially as performance director before becoming sporting director in 2016. During that period, he played a central role in assembling the squad that won the 2019/20 Premier League—the Reds’ first top-flight crown since 1990. His return in 2024 coincided with a restructure that included the appointment of Slot, who delivered the 2025 title before being dismissed in June 2026. Iraola, recruited from Bournemouth, now leads the team into a new campaign amid reports that sporting director Richard Hughes—appointed by Edwards—could also leave for Al-Hilal this summer.

FSG framed the move as the “culmination of a planned transition,” noting Edwards had helped implement a new football leadership structure and guided the club through a period that included the 2025 league triumph. The statement also referenced Liverpool’s continued evolution under his oversight, though it did not detail his next steps. Edwards’ decision to leave now, rather than serve out the remaining year, suggests a divergence between his vision for the role and the direction FSG ultimately chose. In a statement released by FSG, Edwards said: “This has been a planned transition, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to Liverpool’s success over two spells. The club is in a strong position, and I wish everyone at Anfield the very best for the future.”

Why this reshuffle matters now

The timing amplifies the significance. Liverpool enter a transfer window where replacing Mohamed Salah will be one of the most pressing tasks, with the club already having broken the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak for £125m last season. Since Edwards’ return, Liverpool have spent nearly £550m on players including Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni, before adding Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Muñoz this summer. With Hughes’ potential exit looming, the club faces a double leadership vacuum at the very moment it must rebuild.

FSG’s decision not to pursue a multi-club model after exploring around 25 potential acquisitions—including Málaga and Bordeaux—also appears to have influenced Edwards’ thinking. According to the Independent, he felt the role was not developing as he and the ownership had envisaged, and ruled out a return to a purely sporting director position. With Mike Gordon, FSG’s president, expected to take on a greater operational role, the power structure at Anfield is set to shift once more.

The leadership vacuum and what comes next

Edwards’ departure leaves Liverpool without a CEO of football at a critical juncture. The club has already navigated managerial changes—Klopp to Slot to Iraola—and now faces the prospect of losing its top football executive just as it prepares for a new season. The potential exit of Hughes, who was hired by Edwards, would compound the instability, leaving Iraola without the senior football leadership that has underpinned Liverpool’s recent transfer activity.

Speculation over who might replace Edwards has already begun, though FSG has not indicated a timeline. The club’s recent history shows a preference for internal progression—Slot was promoted from within the coaching staff—but the current context demands external scrutiny. With Liverpool’s transfer budget still substantial but their squad in flux, the next appointment will need to balance immediate needs with long-term planning. The question is whether FSG will prioritise continuity or seek fresh direction after a period of upheaval.

One certainty is that Edwards’ legacy will be measured by the players he signed and the titles he helped secure. His influence extended beyond transfers: he shaped Liverpool’s football operations during a transformative era. Now, as he exits for the second time, the challenge for FSG is to ensure that the next chapter builds on that foundation without repeating the turbulence of the past two seasons.

With the 2026/27 campaign approaching, Liverpool’s hierarchy must move quickly. The club’s ability to retain top targets—whether through new leadership or existing structures—will determine whether Edwards’ departure becomes a footnote or the start of another period of instability. Liverpool fixtures & scores | Transfer Centre LIVE!

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