Florian Wirtz: How German sensation could light up Liverpool

In the summer of 2025, the football world buzzed with anticipation as Bayer Leverkusen’s 22-year-old attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz inked a British-record €136.3 million (£116.5 million) transfer to Liverpool, a move that could redefine the Premier League champions’ attacking identity. For a club renowned for bringing on transformative talents like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Alisson Becker, Wirtz’s arrival signals Liverpool’s ambition to dominate both domestically and in Europe under manager Arne Slot. With a dazzling blend of creativity, goal-scoring ability, and relentless pressing, the German sensation is set to become the creative anchor of Liverpool’s attack, but what makes this young star so special, and what can Anfield expect from him?

Wirtz’s potential move to Liverpool

Liverpool’s pursuit of Wirtz, tracked since his Koln days in 2020 by Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of Football Michael Edwards, culminated in a blockbuster deal finalized in June 2025. After outbidding Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, Liverpool agreed to a €117.5 million (£100 million) base fee plus €18.8 million (£16 million) in add-ons, surpassing Chelsea’s £115 million record for Moisés Caicedo. Wirtz’s preference for Anfield, influenced by a visit to the northwest of England and discomfort with Bayern’s public pursuit, sealed the transfer. Posts on X from insiders like Fabrizio Romano and The Anfield Talk confirmed the deal’s imminence, with Wirtz set to sign a five-year contract worth £200,000 per week.

The transfer, which also saw Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong join Liverpool for £29.6 million, breaks multiple records: the most expensive German player, Premier League signing, Bundesliga departure, and Liverpool acquisition, which is more than Darwin Nunez’s £85 million fee. Leverkusen’s €150 million valuation, backed by Bayer AG, reflects Wirtz’s €140 million market value, nearly double Havertz’s €80 million move to Chelsea in 2020.

RELATED STORIES

What If…?: Five Football’s Most Dramatic Failed Transfers

Werner, Sancho: Bundesliga Stars Who Flopped in Premier League

Wirtz’s Performance in 2024/25

Wirtz’s 2024/25 season with Leverkusen was another masterclass, despite the club finishing second to Bayern Munich, 13 points off the pace. In 45 matches across all competitions, he scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists, including 10 goals and 13 assists in 30 Bundesliga games and 6 goals with 1 assist in 9 Champions League matches. His 31 goal involvements in 2024/25 followed 38 in 2023/24, totaling 69 contributions over two seasons, an average of one every 1.61 appearances. In the Champions League, Wirtz earned Man of the Match honors in five of his first nine games, including a first-half brace in a 4-0 rout of Feyenoord.

Internationally, Wirtz dazzled for Germany, scoring 5 goals in the UEFA Nations League, including a brace against Bosnia and Herzegovina and a header in a 2-1 semifinal loss to Portugal. At Euro 2024, he broke Kai Havertz’s record as Germany’s youngest European Championship scorer (21 years, 42 days) with a goal against Scotland and netted a dramatic 89th-minute equalizer against Spain in the quarterfinals, forcing extra time. His 7-second goal against France in a March 2024 friendly remains the second-fastest in international history.

Wirtz’s paying style

Wirtz’s game is a mesmerizing blend of intelligence, technique, and dynamism, making him a perfect fit for Arne Slot’s possession-based, high-pressing 4-2-3-1 system. Primarily a No. 10, Wirtz thrives between the lines, drifting left or operating as a false nine, as seen under Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 at Leverkusen. His versatility allows him to play as an inverted winger or central striker, offering Liverpool tactical flexibility.

Wirtz led the Bundesliga in completed take-ons and dribbles in 2024/25, with 93rd-percentile rankings across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions and progressive passes. His ability to glide past defenders, as seen in a solo goal against Freiburg in 2023, is enhanced by his ambidexterity and quick acceleration. Moreover, Wirtz’s 49 through balls and 123 lay-off passes topped the Bundesliga, with 70 open-play chances created in 2023/24—an unrivaled figure. His disguised passes, like a through ball against Heidenheim, and outside-of-the-boot crosses showcase his creativity.

With 47% of his shots on target and an xG per shot of 0.13, Wirtz is clinical, scoring 21 Bundesliga goals since 2023/24. His volley against Atlético Madrid in January 2025 highlighted his composure in tight spaces. Described as a “pressing monster” by Sky Sports, Wirtz won 71 possessions in the final third, including 39 high turnovers—both Bundesliga highs. His energy and duel-winning physique (despite his 5’9” frame) align with Slot’s intense style.

Records and achievements of Wirtz

Wirtz’s trophy cabinet and accolades at 22 are staggering: he won the 2023/24 Bundesliga title, the 2023/24 DFB-Pokal, the 2024/25 DFL-Supercup, and a Europa League runners up (2023/24). Individually, Wirtz was Bundesliga Player of the Season (2023/24), Bundesliga Players’ Union Player of the Year (2024/25, 29.1% vote over Harry Kane), Europa League Young Player of the Season (2022/23, 2023/24), German Footballer of the Year (2023, 2024), Bundesliga Player of the Month (6 times, including December 2024 and January 2025).

Furthermore, Wirtz is the Youngest Leverkusen Bundesliga debutant (17 years, 15 days), youngest German Euro scorer (21 years, 42 days), second-fastest international goal (7 seconds vs France), first career hat-trick in Leverkusen’s 5-0 title-clinching win over Werder Bremen (April 2024).

RELATED STORIES

Liverpool’s Transfer Dilemma: The Cost of Complacency

Jeremie Frimpong: What fans could expect from Trent’s replacement

What Liverpool fans can expect from Wirtz

Wirtz’s arrival poses challenges for Arne Slot, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott facing reduced minutes, and Darwin Nunez potentially departing for Al-Hilal to balance the books. Yet, Wirtz’s fit in Slot’s system is seamless. Likely deployed as a No. 10, he’ll link play with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz, reducing creative pressure on Salah, who turns 33 in June 2025. His false-nine capability could see him emulate Roberto Firmino, dropping deep to create space for wingers, as suggested by The Athletic.

Fans can expect a player who transforms Liverpool’s attack with his dribbling, through balls, and pressing intensity. His 44 goal involvements in the Bundesliga since 2023/24 outpace any U22 player in Europe’s top leagues, and his ability to break down low blocks as seen in Leverkusen’s 100th-minute winner against Mochengladbach will counter defenses Liverpool often face. Wirtz’s Anfield impact could complement Van Dijk’s defensive revolution. If Wirtz delivers, he could be the cornerstone of Liverpool’s post-Salah era, leading them to further Premier League and Champions League glory.

Conclusion

As Wirtz prepares for his medical and contract signing, Liverpool fans dream of a new era defined by his class and style. From Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga triumph to Germany’s Euro 2024 heroics, Wirtz has proven he’s no ordinary talent. At Anfield, under Slot’s meticulous guidance, the 22-year-old is ready to write his next chapter, blending German precision with Anfield passion. If his £116.5 million price tag is any indication, Florian Wirtz isn’t just a signing, he’s a statement of Liverpool’s tireless ambition.