The transfer fee could rise to £116 million ($156 million), potentially making the 22-year-old Wirtz the most expensive player in British football history.
Liverpool Make Major Statement with Record Signing of Florian Wirtz
Fresh off their historic Premier League triumph, Liverpool have made a bold move in the transfer market by securing the signature of German sensation Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen. The deal, finalized on Friday, June 20, 2025, sends a clear signal of intent from the Merseyside club, determined to build on their recent success.
The transfer fee for the 22-year-old could rise to a staggering £116 million ($156 million), setting a new British record and making Wirtz the most expensive signing in the country’s football history. Liverpool will pay an initial £100 million, with an additional £16 million in potential add-ons.
“I feel very happy and very proud,” Wirtz told Liverpool’s official website. “Finally it’s done — I was waiting a long time. I’m excited for this new adventure. Leaving the Bundesliga for the Premier League was a big decision, but I wanted a fresh challenge. I’ve spoken to players who’ve been here, and they’ve told me every pitch and every game is something to look forward to. I can’t wait to play my first match.”
A generational talent, Wirtz was pivotal in Leverkusen’s historic 2023-24 campaign, during which they won both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal without a single defeat. Since debuting at 17, he has grown into one of Europe’s top attacking midfielders and now boasts 29 caps for the German national team. He was also a consistent performer in Germany’s Euro 2024 run.
Liverpool’s decision to break the bank underlines their commitment to remaining competitive under manager Arne Slot, who led the club to their 20th English top-flight title — tying Manchester United’s all-time record — in his debut season. That championship came with minimal spending; only one outfield player, Federico Chiesa, was signed last season, and he played a limited role.
This summer, however, the Reds are acting decisively. Having already secured right wing-back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for a fee in the range of €35–40 million ($39.7m–$45.4m), they returned to the German club to sign its crown jewel. Wirtz, despite long-standing interest from Bayern Munich, opted to move abroad — a choice that has surprised many in Germany.
“I wouldn’t have expected Florian to make this move so early,” German football legend Lothar Matthäus told broadcaster n-tv. “But clearly he wants to push himself outside his comfort zone.”
There were several factors complicating a possible move to Bayern: the steep price tag Leverkusen demanded, as well as uncertainty over how Wirtz would fit alongside Jamal Musiala, Germany’s other young attacking midfield star.
Wirtz’s development has been remarkable. After joining Leverkusen from rivals Cologne at age 16 — a controversial move at the time — he quickly established himself in the first team. His debut came just after his 17th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic. A month later, he became the youngest scorer in Bundesliga history (a record since surpassed).
Despite a serious cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for most of 2022, Wirtz bounced back to lead Leverkusen’s historic 2023-24 season under Xabi Alonso. With Alonso now at Real Madrid and former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag taking over at Leverkusen, the German side faces a significant rebuild.
Wirtz’s move to Liverpool marks his first venture outside of the Rhineland region, where Cologne and Leverkusen — just 10 kilometers apart — had defined his footballing journey until now. His family has been closely involved in his career, with his parents, Hans Wirtz and Karin Gross, acting as his agents until recently. His older sister, Juliane Wirtz, is also a professional footballer with Werder Bremen’s women’s team.
In tactical terms, Wirtz is expected to slot into the No. 10 role at Liverpool, offering a more creative alternative to the energetic but less inventive Dominik Szoboszlai. This could allow Szoboszlai to drop into a deeper midfield role alongside Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, or Curtis Jones.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will now pursue a new striker, with Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota currently leading the line. But one thing is clear: with the addition of Florian Wirtz, Liverpool are not resting on their laurels — they are building a side ready to dominate for years to come.