Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s record £116 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen, revealed that his former coach Xabi Alonso fully supported his switch to Anfield, putting to rest speculation about a potential transfer to Real Madrid.
The 21-year-old German talent, speaking on June 25, 2025 during his first days at the AXA Training Centre, recalled Alonso’s encouragement: “He was very happy I was coming here. He told me that Liverpool is the perfect club to grow, just like it was for him at 22.” These remarks highlight Alonso’s strong ties to Liverpool, where he famously won the 2005 Champions League.
Alonso — who recently led Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double before taking the reins at Madrid — had been tipped to bring Wirtz to the Bernabeu, and has called him a future Ballon d’Or winner. Despite Madrid’s interest, Wirtz chose Liverpool after being impressed by Arne Slot’s plans and the club’s personal touch, including a meeting with his family.
The transfer, finalized on June 24, 2025, also reunites Wirtz with fellow Leverkusen alumnus Jeremie Frimpong, bolstering Liverpool’s attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai. Wirtz arrives off a stellar 2024/25 campaign that included 18 goals, 20 assists, 104 key passes, and 87 completed dribbles — numbers that attracted giants like Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
His versatility as an attacking midfielder or winger suits Slot’s 4-2-3-1 setup, and early sessions show him fitting in seamlessly. Alonso’s support adds emotional significance to the transfer, as the Spaniard draws parallels to his own Liverpool chapter starting at 22 years old.
Liverpool fans have embraced the signing, buoyed by Alonso’s glowing endorsement. However, some supporters remain cautious about Madrid’s ambitions, especially after the Spanish club recently lodged an £80 million bid for Ibrahima Konaté.
Wirtz is part of a summer spending spree exceeding £185.5 million — including Milos Kerkez and Frimpong — underlining Liverpool’s commitment to defending their Premier League crown. With his Anfield debut on the horizon, Alonso’s heartfelt blessing sets the tone for a promising new era in the Reds’ long and proud history.
