June 20, (THEWILL) – Liverpool have completed the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a club-record fee of €136.3 million (£116 million), with the German playmaker penning a five-year contract that runs until 2030.
The deal comprises €117.5 million (£100 million) upfront plus €18.8 million (£16 million) in performance-related add-ons, making the 22-year-old the most expensive player in the English Premier League champions’ history.
Wirtz arrived in the United Kingdom earlier this week to complete his medical after Liverpool agreed terms with the Bundesliga side.
The transfer represents a significant coup for Liverpool, who initially faced resistance from Leverkusen over their €150 million valuation.
Liverpool’s persistence paid off after submitting an improved offer of €134 million in early June, having seen their initial €130 million bid rejected the previous week.
Bayern Munich had also shown interest in Wirtz, but the midfielder made clear his preference for a move to Anfield after viewing properties in northwest England during May.
Wirtz’s arrival follows the earlier signing of his Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong, who joined Liverpool for £29.6 million after his release clause activation.
The German international’s impressive statistics underscore his quality.
He recorded 18 goals and 20 assists in 49 matches during Leverkusen’s title-winning 2023/2024 campaign, then followed up with 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games the following season.
His performances earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Season award and helped Leverkusen reach the UEFA Europa League final.
The versatile attacking midfielder operates primarily from the left flank but can feature across multiple positions in the final third.
Statistical analysis shows Wirtz attempts 32.4 passes within the attacking third per 90 minutes, second only to Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku among players in Europe’s top four leagues this season.
His ability to drop into pockets between lines, drift wide to create overloads, and drive forward with the ball makes him particularly suited to Arne Slot’s tactical approach.
Liverpool’s investment in Wirtz signals their ambition to build upon their 2024/2025 title success and establish a sustained period of dominance.
The signing addresses their need for creativity and goal contribution from wide areas, potentially reducing their reliance on finding a marquee striker in what remains a challenging market.
With 31 international caps and seven goals for Germany since his debut in September 2021, Wirtz brings both proven quality and the potential to develop further under Slot’s guidance at Anfield.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
