Liverpool Smash Transfer Record with £116m Florian Wirtz Deal

Premier League champions Liverpool have struck a blockbuster £116 million agreement to sign Florian Wirtz, Germany’s rising midfield star, from Bayer Leverkusen.

The record-breaking transfer includes a guaranteed £100 million and £16 million in performance-based add-ons. Those additional payments will only be triggered if Liverpool achieves a sustained level of success, potentially making this the largest British transfer deal to date.

A New British Record?

The current British record for an initial transfer remains Enzo Fernandez, who joined Chelsea for £107 million from Benfica in 2023. Chelsea also secured Moises Caicedo from Brighton for a base of £100 million, rising to £115 million with bonuses.

While Wirtz’s base fee does not eclipse Fernandez’s outright, the structure of Liverpool’s deal makes it the biggest in their club history, surpassing the £85 million package for Darwin Nunez and the £75 million spent on Virgil van Dijk.

Florian Wirtz’s Decision and Career So Far

Manchester City were previously interested in Wirtz but pulled back due to the financial implications. Bayern Munich were also linked with the 22-year-old, but Wirtz is believed to have prioritized a move to Anfield.

Despite Leverkusen valuing the player at approximately £126 million, Liverpool successfully negotiated below that mark.

Wirtz debuted for Leverkusen at just 17, scoring 57 goals in 197 appearances, and was instrumental in securing their historic 2024 Bundesliga title. Internationally, he has netted seven goals in 31 caps for Germany since his debut in 2021.

Busy Summer for Liverpool

Wirtz becomes Liverpool’s second signing from Leverkusen this summer, joining Jeremie Frimpong, who arrived in a £34 million deal. The club is also in talks to acquire Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, with a proposed deal valued between £45 million and £50 million.

Under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool clinched the 2024–25 Premier League title and are now reinforcing their squad ambitiously. Their recent frugal approach to the market—last summer they only brought in Federico Chiesa for £12.5 million and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for £29 million—has allowed room for significant investment.

Key Departures

On the departures front, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has joined Brentford in a deal worth £12.5 million, potentially rising to £18 million. The Reds also bid farewell to long-serving full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who signed with Real Madrid.

Sources close to Liverpool suggest Madrid paid around €10 million (£8.4 million) for an early release from his contract, which was due to expire on June 30. However, reports from Spain imply the fee may have been lower.

“He Will Bring Versatility” – Expert View

Edu Rubio, former coach at West Ham, Wolves, and Crystal Palace, shared his analysis:

“The player’s versatility will be of great value to Liverpool. He can come from the left inside or he play more centrally.

Wirtz’s ability to break lines and find the final pass is exquisite. He is a master in finding the pockets and will also add goals into the squad.

His work off the ball is very good, but will he adapt quickly to the potentially faster pace and more physical game of the Premier League?

He is a player with an admirable work ethic, so Liverpool will definitely be adding an honest and very skillful player into their squad.”