Liverpool latest: Michael Edwards leaves as chief executive officer of football for Fenway Sports Group

Michael Edwards has left his role as chief executive officer (CEO) of football for Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who own Liverpool, leaving the club ahead of the 2026/27 season.

A statement from FSG added it was a "planned transition", bringing an end to two spells at Anfield for Edwards.

Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor said: "What we're told is Edwards actually informed FSG in the autumn of 2025 that he intended to leave Liverpool once he felt they were in the right place for the future. The expectation from the outset was that this would likely be the summer of 2026.

"While the ownership would have preferred for him to stay, they ultimately respected that decision."

• Transfer Centre LIVE! | Liverpool news & transfers🔴
• Liverpool fixtures & scores | FREE Liverpool PL highlights▶️
• Got Sky? Watch Liverpool games LIVE on your phone📱
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺
• Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔

He spent over a decade at the club between 2011 and 2022, firstly as performance director before becoming sporting director in 2016.

He returned as CEO in March 2024, overseeing all football operations at Liverpool, as Jurgen Klopp prepared to leave the club. Edwards was credited with signing key players that helped the Reds to the 2019/20 Premier League - their first league title since 1990.

Arne Slot took over in June 2024 leading Liverpool to their 20th Premier League title. However, he was replaced by Andoni Iraola in early June after a below-par second season.

An FSG statement added: "Edwards' departure marks the culmination of a planned transition following the completion of key strategic priorities.

"Since returning to the organisation in March 2024, he has helped oversee Liverpool through a significant period of change, including the implementation of a new football leadership structure and the appointment of a new head coach.

"He also oversaw the continued evolution of the club's football operation during a period in which Liverpool secured its historic 20th English league title in 2025, before preparations for the next phase of its development."

His departure comes ahead of the 2026/27 campaign and amid a summer transfer window where replacing Mohamed Salah will be one of the biggest tasks.

There is also speculation that Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes could be on the move, which would further shake up the hierarchy at the club.

Edwards added in a statement: "It has been a privilege to return to Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool Football Club at such an important moment. I leave believing Liverpool is in a strong position, with outstanding people, a clear direction and the foundations in place for continued success.

"When I returned, I was excited not only by the opportunity to help guide Liverpool through an important period of transition, but also by the chance to help shape FSG's wider football ambitions. While that broader project ultimately evolved differently to how we had originally envisaged, I am proud of the work our team undertook in presenting ownership with a broad range of thoughtful and well-developed options for the future.

"I'd like to thank Mike [Gordon], John [W. Henry], Tom [C. Werner] and everyone across FSG and Liverpool for their support and friendship and, most importantly, the supporters, whose passion makes this club so special. I will always be grateful to have been part of its story."

'Edwards departure not necessarily upheaval for Liverpool'

Analysis from Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor:

"I don't think it's necessarily upheaval, given the fact that Liverpool and FSG knew about this back in the autumn of 2025.

"You get the impression that FSG will not be looking to appoint a successor to Edwards because there's no real need. If they've only got Liverpool, there is still Julian Ward as technical director and Hughes as sporting director.

"Where the fear element comes into it is there's a lot of rumour and a lot of conjecture at the moment as to the future of Hughes, who is into the final year of his contract, and those links with Saudi Arabia and Al Hilal.

"But at the moment, we're told that the only change happening in terms of the hierarchy here at Liverpool is the fact that Edwards is leaving FSG.

"FSG often have succession plans in place as well, so there's no real need to feel necessarily worried at the moment.

"And with regard to Liverpool moving forward, Hughes will still be overseeing the transfer dealings for the rest of the summer, at the very least, so there's no real need to get too panicky as to the situation at Liverpool."

How scrapping of multi-club plans led to Edwards' departure

Analysis from Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor:

"There was a sense of inevitability about this once Liverpool or FSG, in fact, shelved their plans for a multi-club ownership model. After all, that was one of the very reasons why Edwards was tempted back.

"When Edwards returned to FSG, it was with a remit that went beyond Liverpool. A significant part of that attraction was the overseeing of a multi-club ownership model.

"They had talks with the likes of Bordeaux, Getafe, Malaga as well as another club they looked at.

"But ultimately, the proposed multi-club ownership model didn't come to fruition and in many aspects, that made Edwards' position redundant."

What is Edwards' Liverpool legacy?

Analysis from Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor:

"It shouldn't be forgotten, though, the work that he has done in two spells involved with Liverpool and FSG… he was very much responsible for the appointment of Klopp and latterly, Iraola, working in conjunction with Hughes.

"He also helped bring Ward back to the club, or back to FSG as technical director, and was responsible for the appointment of Slot.

"In that time, success has been delivered on the pitch - two Premier League titles, the Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World champions, along with FA Cup and two League Cups as well. That tells you a lot about the kind of legacy that Edwards leaves

"But the fact the multi-club ownership model didn't progress is a big factor in why Edwards will no longer be involved with FSG."

Carra: Timing of departure unhelpful for Liverpool's transfer plans

Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:

"Disappointed, but not really shocked. I think it was well documented when he came back to the club that he was in a slightly different role. He was looking at Liverpool having a feeder club. That didn't materialise.

"So I think this was going to happen at some stage. Probably just disappointed it's happened in the middle of the transfer window. I don't know why he couldn't have stayed and added his expertise or his help to try and get some signings over the line and maybe have moved on when the transfer window had closed.

"But, these roles in football now, we wouldn't have talked about these probably 10, 15, 20 years ago. They're more high-profile now, but for me the manager is always the most important person and when I look back at that era of success, it was about Jurgen Klopp. Probably what happened over the last 12 months proves that.

"It looks like Richard Hughes will be moving on as well, maybe after this transfer window. So Andoni [Iraola] may be feeling a little bit lonely."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Liverpool latest: Michael Edwards leaves as chief executive officer of football for Fenway Sports Group