Liverpool have officially secured the signing of Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz for a club-record £116 million — a blockbuster move that sends shockwaves through the summer transfer market. The 21-year-old German starlet, one of the most highly rated players in the game, has agreed a six-year deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2031. Announced on June 24, 2025, the signing signals Liverpool’s intent to challenge on all fronts under Arne Slot.
Wirtz’s transfer is a bold statement. Since making his Leverkusen debut at 17 in 2020, he has earned a reputation for his creativity, close control, and eye for goal. Last season alone, he notched 18 goals and 20 assists across 49 appearances as Leverkusen clinched a historic Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double while reaching the Europa League final. Beyond the numbers, his 104 key passes, 87 successful dribbles, and 2,541 passes into the final third underscore his elite playmaking qualities. On the international stage, Wirtz has 24 caps for Germany and scored four goals, including one at Euro 2024.
Wirtz perfectly suits Slot’s dynamic 4-2-3-1 setup, where he’s expected to shine as the central playmaker. Comfortable also drifting wide or dropping deeper into midfield, his versatility adds real tactical flexibility. Linking up with fellow new arrivals like Milos Kerkez (£40m from Bournemouth) and Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m from Leverkusen), as well as reuniting with former teammate Frimpong, he looks set to bolster an attack also featuring Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The £116 million fee eclipses Liverpool’s previous record of £85m for Darwin Núñez and makes Wirtz the most expensive German player in history, surpassing Kai Havertz’s £71m switch to Chelsea. Leverkusen initially resisted offers but eventually agreed after Wirtz expressed his desire to join Liverpool, citing the club’s proud tradition and Slot’s attacking philosophy. The deal contains further performance-based bonuses, including milestones for Premier League and Champions League success.
Liverpool successfully fended off strong interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, with sporting director Richard Hughes and Slot personally playing a pivotal role in sealing the transfer. Supporters on X have been celebrating the signing, calling Wirtz a “generational talent” who could define a new era at Anfield. Following more than £200m in summer spending, expectations will be sky-high — and all eyes will be on Wirtz to live up to the hype and help deliver silverware.
