Liverpool have completed the high-profile signing of German star Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal that could set a new record for the Premier League.
According to reports in England, the reigning Premier League champions will pay an initial £100 million ($134 million) for the 22-year-old forward, with an additional £16 million in performance-related bonuses potentially pushing the total fee to £116 million, the highest deal in British football history.
German media outlets, however, claim the fee may be even higher, suggesting the deal begins at €130 million (£111 million/$149 million) and could rise to €150 million with add-ons.
Wirtz, widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in European football, played a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s historic 2023/24 season, where they claimed their first-ever Bundesliga title and lifted the German Cup without suffering a single defeat in domestic competitions. The only blemish on their campaign was a loss to Atalanta in the Europa League final, which denied them a treble.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, Wirtz expressed his excitement about joining the club: “I’m really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. Leaving the Bundesliga for the Premier League was a big decision, but I wanted something new. My goal is to help the team retain the Premier League title and go further in the Champions League. I’m very ambitious.”
Former Leverkusen manager and Liverpool alumnus Xabi Alonso who is now in charge at Real Madrid previously described Wirtz as “one of the best in the world.”
The attacking midfielder, who has 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen, often played behind a central striker but has also featured in wide positions for the German national team. His versatility, creativity, and goal-scoring ability will add significant depth to Liverpool’s attacking options.
Wirtz is the latest high-profile departure from Leverkusen, following Dutch defender Jeremie Frimpong’s transfer to Anfield last month.
Liverpool, who were relatively quiet in the transfer market during Arne Slot’s first season as manager, are now making major moves to bolster their squad. In addition to Wirtz and Frimpong, Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is expected to join in a £40 million deal.
The club has also been linked with further reinforcements, including Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Wirtz’s arrival may trigger a shake-up in Liverpool’s forward line, which already includes Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez, and Federico Chiesa. With increased competition for starting spots, some of these players could be offloaded to balance the books and create room for more arrivals.
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