Premier League champions beat Bayern Munich and Man City to land Bayer Leverkusen’s crown jewel in blockbuster summer swoop
LIVERPOOL have completed the signing of German superstar Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a British record fee of £116million.
The Premier League champions have beaten off fierce competition from Bayern Munich and Manchester City to land the 22-year-old attacking midfielder in what represents the most expensive transfer in British football history.
The clubs agreed a base £100m fee for Wirtz, which could rise to £116m depending on bonuses including winning the Premier League and Champions League – eclipsing the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo in 2023.
REDS SMASH TRANSFER RECORD
The blockbuster deal represents a massive statement of intent from Liverpool boss Arne Slot as he looks to build on last season’s title triumph.
Wirtz, who scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in just 25 Bundesliga starts last season, arrives at Anfield having snubbed approaches from German giants Bayern Munich and Premier League rivals Manchester City.
The Germany international underwent his medical on Friday after Liverpool’s improved offer was finally accepted by Leverkusen, who initially wanted £126m for their prized asset.
SLOT’S TACTICAL MASTERPLAN
Sources close to the deal revealed that Slot’s tactical plan was one of the key reasons Wirtz chose Liverpool over higher wage offers elsewhere.
The playmaker will fit into Liverpool’s existing wage structure, earning a basic salary of £195,000 per week that could rise to £245,000 with individual and team performance bonuses.
“When I moved from Cologne to Leverkusen in 2020, I did not think for a single second about my salary, but only about what is best for my career,” Wirtz said earlier this year.
“I also don’t even care how much money I have in my account or what I could earn in the future.”
BAYERN MUNICH SNUBBED
In a major coup for Liverpool, Wirtz rejected the advances of Bayern Munich despite the Bavarian giants’ confidence that he would remain in Germany.
The Bundesliga champions were so certain of landing their top target that they believed the narrative of Wirtz only joining them would help negotiate a lower transfer fee with Leverkusen.
Instead, the 22-year-old chose Liverpool because he believes they represent the best move for his career and development as a player.
REUNITED WITH FRIMPONG
Wirtz will link up with former Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong, who completed a £29.5m move to Anfield earlier in the window.
The close friendship between the pair is understood to have played a role in convincing Wirtz that Liverpool was the right destination for the next stage of his career.
WHERE WIRTZ FITS IN
The German wonderkid’s versatility makes him a perfect fit for Slot’s system, with the ability to play as an attacking midfielder, false nine, or even as a central striker.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher believes Wirtz could either take Dominik Szoboszlai’s role in midfield or operate from the left wing, adding: “Whether Wirtz comes in and plays in Szoboszlai’s role or plays from the left, I don’t know.
TRANSFER SAGA TIMELINE
- May 30: Liverpool submit initial £105m offer
- June 6: Second bid of £109m rejected by Leverkusen
- June 13: Agreement reached at £100m plus £16m add-ons
- June 19: Wirtz arrives in UK for medical
- June 20: Deal completed and announced
STATEMENT OF INTENT
The signing represents a clear message from Liverpool that they intend to remain at the summit of English football, with the club’s hierarchy believing Wirtz could have the same transformational impact as Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker.
Sky Sports News‘ Ben Ransom described it as “a huge statement signing from the champions,” while former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insisted the club needed to refresh their squad despite winning the title.
LEVERKUSEN’S LOSS
For Bayer Leverkusen, losing their crown jewel represents a major blow despite the record fee received.
Wirtz was instrumental in their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2023 and helped them finish runners-up to Bayern Munich last season.
The German club had hoped to keep their star man for at least one more season but ultimately couldn’t turn down Liverpool’s massive offer.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
With Wirtz and Frimpong already through the door, Liverpool are now targeting Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, who is valued at around £45m.
Carragher believes a new centre-forward could also be on the agenda: “I wouldn’t be surprised if once Liverpool get these three done, the next one will be a centre forward.
THE NUMBERS
- Transfer fee: £100m rising to £116m
- Contract: Five years
- Wages: £195,000-£245,000 per week
- Last season: 10 goals, 12 assists in 25 starts
- International: 29 caps for Germany
As Liverpool fans celebrate the arrival of one of European football’s brightest talents, the message is clear – the Reds mean business in their defence of the Premier League title.
Pyaet. “Florian Wirtz on the 2022/23 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season launch.” Photo taken on 31 July 2022 at 13:48:31at the Bayer 04 Leverkusen season‑opening event in Leverkusen, Germany. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution‑ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY‑SA 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
