The layered dichalcogenide MoS$$_{2}$$
2
is relevant for electrochemical Li adsorption/intercalation, in the course of which the material undergoes a concomitant structural phase transition from semiconducting 2H-MoS$$_{2}$$
2
to metallic 1T-Li$$_{\mathrm{x}}$$
x
MoS$$_{2}$$
2
. With the core hole clock approach at the S L$$_{1}$$
1
X-ray absorption edge we quantify the ultrafast directional charge transfer of excited S3p electrons in-plane ($$\parallel$$
‖
) and out-of-plane ($$\perp$$
⊥
) for 2H-MoS$$_{2}$$
2
as $$\tau _{2H,\parallel } = 0.38 \pm 0.08$$
τ
2
H
,
‖
=
0.38
±
0.08
fs and $$\tau _{2H,\perp } = 0.33 \pm 0.06$$
τ
2
H
,
⊥
=
0.33
±
0.06
fs and for 1T-Li$$_{\mathrm{x}}$$
x
MoS$$_{2}$$
2
as $$\tau _{1T,\parallel } = 0.32 \pm 0.12$$
τ
1
T
,
‖
=
0.32
±
0.12
fs and $$\tau _{1T,\perp } = 0.09 \pm 0.07$$
τ
1
T
,
⊥
=
0.09
±
0.07
fs. The isotropic charge delocalization of S3p electrons in the semiconducting 2H phase within the S-Mo-S sheets is assigned to the specific symmetry of the Mo-S bonding arrangement. Formation of 1T-Li$$_{\mathrm{x}}$$
x
MoS$$_{2}$$
2
by lithiation accelerates the in-plane charge transfer by a factor of $$\sim 1.2$$
∼
1.2
due to electron injection to the Mo-S covalent bonds and concomitant structural repositioning of S atoms within the S-Mo-S sheets. For excitation into out-of-plane orbitals, an accelerated charge transfer by a factor of $$\sim 3.7$$
∼
3.7
upon lithiation occurs due to S-Li coupling.