Liverpool agree £116m deal for Florian Wirtz in potential British transfer record
Liverpool have reportedly agreed a club-record deal worth up to £116 million ($157 million) to sign Germany international Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, according to widespread reports on Friday.
The Premier League champions are said to have agreed to pay an initial £100 million, with performance-based add-ons potentially pushing the final fee to a British record. Reports from Germany indicate the total figure could reach as high as €150 million (£127 million / $172 million).
If the full package is triggered, the transfer would eclipse the £115 million Chelsea committed to signing Moises Caicedo from Brighton in 2023 — a move in which the Ecuadorian turned down Liverpool.
Wirtz, 22, becomes Liverpool’s most expensive signing, surpassing the £85 million paid for Darwin Núñez in 2022, though the full amount for Núñez has yet to be realized due to unmet add-on conditions.
Manchester City were reportedly in the race for Wirtz but withdrew over concerns about the cost of the deal.
Hailed as one of the best young players in world football, Wirtz was instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic 2023/24 campaign, where they went unbeaten in the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. He was named Bundesliga Player of the Year, finishing the season with 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for the club. Their only loss of the season came in the Europa League final against Atalanta.
Former Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso — now manager of Real Madrid — previously described Wirtz as “one of the best in the world.”
The move marks a major statement from Liverpool under new head coach Arne Slot, who oversaw a relatively quiet first transfer window before the club’s charge to a record-equalling 20th English league title.
Wirtz’s Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong has already joined Liverpool, while a move for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez is said to be in the advanced stages.
Wirtz, who typically plays behind a central striker but can also operate from the flanks, will add more depth to a Liverpool attack already featuring Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and Núñez. Federico Chiesa has also been linked with the club, suggesting that competition for places will be intense — and that potential outgoings could follow to balance the squad and budget.
How Slot plans to fit Wirtz into his attacking setup remains to be seen, but the signing signals a clear intent: Liverpool are looking to evolve and stay at the summit of English and European football.
