Liverpool Breaks British Transfer Record with £116.5m Deal for Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz has officially become the most expensive signing in British football history after Liverpool struck a jaw-dropping £116.5 million (€137.5m) deal with Bayer Leverkusen to land the 22-year-old German sensation. The transfer includes an initial fee of £100 million and a further £16.5 million in performance-related add-ons, as confirmed by Sky Sports and Bild.

Jurgen Klopp’s successor, Arne Slot, played a pivotal role in convincing Wirtz to reject Manchester City and Real Madrid, with sources close to the player confirming his desire to play under the Dutch tactician in what he sees as a “fresh tactical era” at Anfield. The move signals a dramatic shift in Liverpool’s post-Klopp project and underlines their readiness to compete both financially and tactically on the global stage.

Wirtz’s numbers speak for themselves — 10 goals and 12 assists from midfield in 25 Bundesliga starts last season, as Leverkusen finished second to Bayern Munich. That followed his instrumental role in Leverkusen’s historic 2023 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, making him one of the most complete attacking midfielders in Europe.

The transfer, finalized late Wednesday night (June 11, 2025), is expected to trigger a domino effect in the transfer market, especially for attacking midfielders. Liverpool’s owners, FSG, had previously resisted splashing out post-Coutinho, but this record-breaking move sends a clear message that the Merseyside giants are back to dominate both England and Europe.

Wirtz will undergo his medical next week upon returning from his summer holiday in Mykonos. Contract talks have already progressed significantly, with personal terms reportedly agreed until 2030, and a weekly wage expected to exceed £300,000, making him one of the top earners at the club alongside Mohamed Salah.

The 22-year-old, who made his senior debut at age 17, had been on the radar of Europe’s elite, including Barcelona and PSG. But Liverpool’s pitch, built around a central attacking role in a system that promises freedom and flair, was too irresistible for the German international.

Fans are already buzzing with excitement over the Wirtz-Fernández-Mac Allister midfield combination. With Slot planning a 4-2-3-1 formation next season, Liverpool’s attack is poised to be among Europe’s most lethal, potentially ushering in a new era of dominance at Anfield.