The 22-year-old German international arrives at Anfield after a sensational campaign in the Bundesliga, with reports suggesting the initial fee of £100 million ($134 million) could rise as high as £130–150 million ($149–168 million) depending on performance-related add-ons. This would surpass both Liverpool’s previous record and the current highest fee ever paid by a Premier League club.
A Generational Talent Joins the Reds
Widely regarded as one of the brightest young stars in world football, Wirtz’s meteoric rise has been lauded by many — including former Leverkusen boss and Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso, who called him “one of the best in the world.” Wirtz now swaps the Bundesliga for the Premier League, a move he says was fuelled by his hunger for new challenges.
“I’m really excited to have a new adventure in front of me,” said Wirtz in his first interview with the club. “I want to experience something completely different — to go out of the Bundesliga and join the Premier League. Last season Liverpool won the league, and my ambition is to win it again and go even further in the Champions League.”
From Invincible Champion to Anfield Galáctico
Wirtz was the creative heartbeat of Bayer Leverkusen’s historic 2023/24 campaign, during which they went undefeated in domestic competitions to claim both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal. Named Bundesliga Player of the Year, Wirtz contributed significantly with 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for the club — outstanding numbers for a midfielder.
Despite their domestic dominance, Leverkusen fell just short of an unbeaten treble, suffering their only loss of the season to Atalanta in the Europa League final. With their manager Alonso now in charge of Real Madrid and key players beginning to exit the BayArena, Wirtz becomes the latest jewel to leave, following Jeremie Frimpong’s earlier switch to Liverpool.
Reinforcements and Rebuild Underway
Wirtz’s arrival marks a major investment under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who now appears to be reshaping the squad after a quiet first season in the transfer market. The club is also close to sealing a £40 million deal for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, and remains linked with high-profile moves for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
With depth in attack already featuring Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and newly acquired Federico Chiesa, Slot now has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal. But Wirtz’s flexibility — able to operate as a central playmaker, wide forward, or second striker — adds a new layer of dynamism.
How the German star fits into Slot’s tactical blueprint remains to be seen, but his arrival could prompt the sale of at least one attacking player to balance the books and accommodate the influx of talent.
A Statement for the Present — and the Future
Liverpool’s acquisition of Wirtz signals more than just a high-profile signing; it’s a message to both domestic and European rivals that the club is rearming for sustained dominance. With a 20th league title recently secured and ambitions for Champions League glory reignited, the Wirtz era at Anfield may well be about to begin — and in explosive fashion.