Liverpool agree club-record deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen

LONDON – Liverpool have agreed a club-record deal worth up to £116 million (S$201 million) to sign attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, it was widely reported on June 13.

Sky Sports reported that the 22-year-old Germany international is now free to speak to Liverpool, but personal terms are not expected to be a problem.

He will undergo a medical next week, when he returns from a holiday.

The Premier League champions will pay an initial £100 million, comfortably surpassing their own record outlay, but if the performance-related add-ons are also included, it would become a potential British record.

The Reds’ overall outlay for him could surpass the £115 million Chelsea agreed to pay Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023 for midfielder Moises Caicedo, who cost Chelsea an initial £100 million fee, excluding add-ons.

Striker Darwin Nunez was Liverpool’s previous record signing in 2022, although they have not paid the full £85 million to his former club Benfica as he has not met all the requirements for certain add-ons to be due.

Bayern Munich and Manchester City were also said to be keen on Wirtz but both pulled out, reportedly due to the spiralling costs of the whole package.

Bayern sporting director Max Eberl told Sky Sports Germany: “If I’m honest, I don’t know if we could have paid what Liverpool are apparently paying now. 

“Florian Wirtz is an outstanding player. We could have imagined signing him. But when a door closes, another opens.” 

After largely keeping their powder dry in the transfer market during Arne Slot’s first season in charge, the Reds are splashing out to strengthen a side that romped to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.

Wirtz’s Leverkusen teammate, Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong, 24, has already joined Liverpool, while a deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, 21, is understood to be well advanced.

Wirtz has been hailed as one of the “best in the world” by former Leverkusen coach and ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who is the new boss of Real Madrid.

He played a crucial role in Leverkusen’s greatest season as they claimed a first-ever Bundesliga title and the German Cup in 2023-24 without losing a single domestic game under Alonso.

Their only defeat that season, during which Wirtz was crowned Bundesliga Player of the Year, came in the Europa League final by Atalanta, denying Leverkusen a memorable treble.

Bayern restored their grip on the Bundesliga last season, with Leverkusen a distant second, and Wirtz is joining an exodus from the BayArena.

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, who was part of the Scotland side who were thrashed 5-1 by Germany in the opening game of Euro 2024, recalled how Wirtz was the one “causing problems – on the half space and running in behind” during that match.

“He would be another exciting talent through the door,” Robertson told Sky Sports.

“We have already got a lot of exciting talent in there, but he is a right good player and will only help us.”

Where Liverpool’s record signing fits into Slot’s plans remains to be seen.

He largely played behind a central striker at Leverkusen and has operated from a wider role for Germany.

A return of 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 games for Leverkusen is evidence that he carries a threat, both as a creator and a goalscorer.

Liverpool are already blessed with an abundance of forward options in Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo.

However, Diogo Jota, Nunez and Federico Chiesa now face even stiffer competition.

Liverpool might sell to free up further transfer resources, with suggestions they could sign a specialist striker. AFP