Liverpool have agreed a British record deal for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.
Multiple reports have suggested the Premier League champions will pay an initial fee of £100million, with £16m in potential add-ons.
If those conditions are met, the Germany international will become the most expensive player ever bought by a British club, surpassing the £106.8m Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez in February 2023.
Wirtz was a key member of the Leverkusen side that clinched the club’s first Bundesliga crown in the 2023-24 season under Xabi Alonso, scoring 18 times on his way to being named German Player of the Year.
He followed that up last season with 16 goals and 15 assists in all competitions as Leverkusen finished runners-up to Bayern Munich in the German top flight.
Wirtz is set to join another former Leverkusen man at Anfield with Jeremie Frimpong already brought in to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has left for Real Madrid.
B E A utiful. ✨🪄 pic.twitter.com/McKLYuVCfJ
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) June 12, 2025
Where will Wirtz play?
The 22-year-old can play anywhere across the front three and although Liverpool’s need for more attacking players is perhaps not immediately apparent, there is set to be movement in that department over the near future.
Darwin Nunez is expected to leave this summer, potentially to the Saudi Pro League, while Luis Diaz is talking to other clubs with two years left on his Liverpool deal.
Mohamed Salah is now 33 and, although he has just signed a new contract after coming off the best season of his career, the acquisition of Wirtz represents smart succession planning.
Leverkusen and Cologne portentially heading for compensation row
The deal will also see Leverkusen make a huge profit.
They signed Wirtz for a reported €200,000 in controversial circumstances in 2020 from Cologne.
Whether they get to keep the full fee from Liverpool remains to be seen, however, with Cologne thrreatening legal action to ensure they get a five per cent cut they believe they are entitled to under “training compensation” guidelines.
Cologne president Dr Werner Wolf said last week: “Of course, we are looking into it. We know what we are entitled to and will fight for it.
“We’re looking at this with both eyes. We’ll benefit from it. The higher the sum Liverpool is willing to pay, the better for us.”
