The Daily Star Ireland
Liverpool Football Club has finalized the acquisition of German midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a record-breaking transfer deal. The agreement includes an initial payment of £100 million, with performance-based add-ons potentially increasing the total fee to £116 million. This transaction surpasses the previous British transfer record held by Chelsea’s £115 million signing of Moisés Caicedo in 2023.
Wirtz, 22, has agreed to a five-year contract with Liverpool, reportedly earning up to £18.5 million annually. The midfielder chose Liverpool over other interested clubs, including Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, citing a preference for the Premier League and the club’s sporting project .
The transfer was facilitated by Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes, who had been in negotiations with Leverkusen for several weeks. The club’s recent financial prudence allowed for this significant investment. Prior to Wirtz’s signing, Liverpool’s record transfer was Darwin Núñez’s £85 million move from Benfica in 2022 .
Wirtz’s arrival is part of Liverpool’s broader strategy to reinforce their squad under new head coach Arne Slot. The club has also secured the services of right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for £29.5 million and is in discussions to acquire left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth .
Wirtz’s performance in the 2023–24 season was instrumental in Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title win. He contributed 16 goals and 15 assists across all competitions and was named Bundesliga Player of the Season . His versatility allows him to operate effectively as an attacking midfielder or across the front line, attributes that Liverpool aims to leverage in their upcoming campaigns.
The transfer is pending a medical examination, after which Wirtz will officially join Liverpool as they prepare for the upcoming season.
