On Friday, Liverpool sealed a club record £116m deal for 22-year-old German playmaker Florian Wirtz, making him the Reds' second major signing of the summer. The former Bayer Leverkusen star, who scored 57 goals in 197 appearances for the Bundesliga runners-up, penned a long-term deal expected to keep him at Anfield until at least 2030. Wirtz, who made his top-flight debut aged 17 in 2020, is set to challenge for trophies as he eyes a successful career at Liverpool.
Wirtz's signing breaks Liverpool's previous record transfer fee of £75m for Virgil van Dijk in 2018, and if all add-ons are achieved, his move will become a British record transfer to surpass Chelsea's £107m purchase of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in 2023.
The young midfielder, who will wear a yet-to-be-announced shirt number, expressed his ambition to win everything every year and emulate Liverpool's successful 2022-23 campaign, where they won the Premier League. He also spoke of his excitement to join the Premier League, which he believes will allow him to showcase his talent.
Wirtz is a dynamic playmaker, known for his pace, awareness, and decision-making at high speed. He ranked third among all players in terms of assists since his debut, with 44 assists in the Bundesliga. Analysts have described him as a "fully-formed article" and "superstar" who will "bring a lot of class and poise" to Liverpool.
The signing raises questions about Wirtz's role in the team, with existing midfielders such as Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister potentially affected. Wirtz could operate as a traditional 10 or on the flank, with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo currently occupying the wide areas.
Liverpool's big-money move for Wirtz follows their acquisition of Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen last month, and the club is reportedly in talks to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for £40m. The Reds are also linked with a new centre-back and striker as they aim to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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