Liverpool have reportedly reached a club-record agreement worth up to £116 million ($157 million) to sign German attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen
According to widespread reports on Friday, the Premier League champions will pay an initial £100 million, surpassing their previous record outlay. The fee could rise significantly with performance-based add-ons, potentially making it a new British transfer record.
German sources claim the total package could climb to €150 million (£127 million/$172 million), putting it ahead of the £115 million Chelsea agreed to pay Brighton for Moises Caicedo in 2023.
Caicedo had also been a target for Liverpool but ultimately chose Chelsea. Prior to Wirtz, Liverpool’s record signing was Darwin Núñez, who joined in 2022 for a potential £85 million, though all add-ons have not yet been triggered.
Manchester City were reportedly interested in Wirtz but withdrew due to the escalating cost of the deal.
Wirtz, 22, played a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten 2023/24 campaign under Xabi Alonso, helping the club win both the Bundesliga and German Cup for the first time.
Alonso, now manager of Real Madrid and a former Liverpool midfielder himself, once hailed Wirtz as “one of the best in the world.”
Liverpool, who had been relatively quiet in the transfer market during Arne Slot’s first season, are now aggressively reinforcing their squad after claiming a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
Wirtz’s Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong has already joined the Reds, and a deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is said to be close.
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