In a major transfer coup, Liverpool has agreed to pay Bayer Leverkusen £116 million for the services of German midfielder Florian Wirtz. The deal comprises a £100 million guaranteed fee plus up to £16 million in performance bonuses, which could make it the highest transfer fee ever paid in British football.
BBC Sport confirmed on Friday that these add-ons are conditional on Liverpool maintaining elite-level success, which would elevate the deal above Chelsea’s £107 million signing of Enzo Fernandez in 2023. Chelsea’s other major signing, Moises Caicedo, cost an initial £100 million with potential add-ons reaching £115 million.
Wirtz’s career began early, making his Leverkusen debut at 17. He has since scored 57 goals in 197 appearances and played a key role in winning the Bundesliga title in 2024. Internationally, he has scored seven goals in 31 appearances for Germany since 2021.
Liverpool values Wirtz’s tactical flexibility; he can operate from the left or central attacking midfield positions. His ability to find pockets of space and execute killer passes is highly regarded. While his off-the-ball work is strong, adapting to the Premier League’s intensity remains a question mark.
Interest from Manchester City waned due to financial considerations, and Bayern Munich was also linked to the player before Liverpool’s decisive move.