Liverpool Football Club has finalized a club-record €120 million (£101 million) transfer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, securing the 21-year-old German attacking midfielder on a five-year contract, the club announced on Thursday, June 19.
The deal, one of the Premier League’s most expensive, positions Wirtz as a cornerstone of Liverpool’s post-Jürgen Klopp era under new manager Arne Slot, following their 2024/25 title triumph.
Wirtz, hailed as Germany’s brightest talent, contributed 18 goals and 20 assists in 49 appearances during Leverkusen’s 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, earning the Bundesliga Player of the Season award. His vision, dribbling, and versatility drew comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne, with Slot prioritizing him to replace Thiago Alcântara’s creativity. Liverpool outbid Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, leveraging Champions League qualification and a €30 million signing bonus to seal the deal, per The Guardian.
Wirtz, who debuted for Germany at 17, is expected to join Liverpool’s pre-season tour in July 2025. The move has sparked excitement among analysts, though some question the fee’s sustainability given FFP constraints. Wirtz’s arrival signals Liverpool’s intent to build a dynasty around young stars like Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.