Premier League titleholders Liverpool have finalized a £116 million agreement to acquire German midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
The total fee consists of a confirmed £100 million, along with an additional £16 million dependent on performance-related bonuses.
These supplementary payments would be triggered if Liverpool attains considerable achievements at the highest level, potentially marking a new British transfer record.
Currently, the record for an upfront transfer fee remains Chelsea’s acquisition of Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for £107 million in 2023.
Chelsea also secured Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo for an initial fee of £100 million, a sum that could increase to £115 million.
Manchester City had shown interest in Wirtz before deciding to withdraw due to the financial implications of the transfer; Bayern Munich had also been mentioned in connection with him.
Wirtz debuted for Leverkusen when he was just 17 years old, netting 57 goals across 197 appearances for the club, and played a key role in helping them secure their first Bundesliga title in 2024.
He has registered seven goals in 31 caps for Germany since he first represented the national team in 2021.
Wirtz is poised to be the second player Liverpool has acquired from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, following the signing of right-back Jeremie Frimpong for £34 million.
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The Reds are also pursuing Bournemouth’s left-back Milos Kerkez, with negotiations ongoing for a transfer valued between £45 million-£50 million.
After winning the Premier League title during manager Arne Slot’s inaugural season, Liverpool aims to strengthen their squad, and their substantial financial commitments are reportedly supported by their cautious spending in prior transfer periods.
Last summer, they added only Italy winger Federico Chiesa for £12.5 million from Juventus and signed Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in a £29 million agreement effective before the next season commences.
The player’s adaptability will be immensely beneficial to Liverpool, as he can operate from the left flank or take on a more central role.
Wirtz excels at penetrating defenses and delivering key passes.
His talent in discovering spaces will significantly enhance the team’s goal-scoring capability.
