The transfer has been emerging for a long time and is now perfect: Florian Wirtz changes from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool FC.
The 22-year-old receives a “long-term” contract at the Premier League club, as the Reds confirmed on Friday evening. The English did not announce the exact term. “I am very happy and very proud. Finally it is time. I waited for a long time,” said Wirtz shortly after the signature. He looks forward to a “new adventure”. With his new club, the native of Pulheim pursues ambitious goals: “I want to win everything every year.”
Wirtz leaves Leverkusen So after five and a half years. In the 2023/24 season, he had brought the double from the championship and DFB Cup in the 2023/24 season and also reached the final in the Europa League. At the same time, Wirtz ripened to the shooting star and international at Bayer. In the central offensive midfield, the 22-year-old shines with a technical class, game overview and runners. 197 times Wirtz ran for Leverkusen and scored 57 goals. So far, the offensive player has played 31 games (seven goals) for the DFB team.
next more serious Bayer exit
Before Wirtz, coach Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), central defender Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich) and wing racer Jeremie Frimpong (also Liverpool) announced their farewell from Leverkusen. At Bayer there is a change that could even be a little bigger, Since the AC Milan wants to sign Leverkusen’s midfield director Granit Xhaka according to the Italian “Gazzetta dello Sport”. However, the Swiss still has a contract until 2028 in Leverkusen.
Managing Director Simon Rolfes had already emphasized before the change was established that despite the upcoming changes, “a new spirit” could arise. “We want to go to the top four of the Bundesliga. There are stories that still have to be written,” said the ex-professional. During his introduction, coach Erik Ten HAG announced as a new Bayer coach that in the event of a landlord you will be looking for a replacement, “or we have to further develop players who are in the squad today”.
Wirtz becomes the Record transfer
Liverpool and Leverkusen agreed long before the medical check in England had agreed on a transfer package for Wirtz, which still had a contract at Bayer until 2027. According to media reports, including a fixed amount and bonus payments, this can include up to 150 million euros. Wirtz would be the most expensive transfer of the Bundesliga-and the Premier League story. So far, only Paris Saint-Germain has paid two even higher transfer fees for the two strikers Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
And the change should also be financially worthwhile for Wirtz itself. According to the latest media reports, he rises directly to the top earners at Liverpool. The team of coach Arne Slot is to pay the exceptional one an annual salary of around 20 million euros.
Wirtz decided against Bayern
For a long time, a lot had been indicated to switch from Wirtz to Bayern Munich until Bayern President Herbert Hainer announced at a fan festival that Wirtz tended to move to Liverpool. This was communicated Max Eberl to sports director after talks between Wirtz and Bavaria had been held.
Our sources:
- Liverpool FC
- Press conference on the introduction of coach Erik ten HAG
- News agencies dpa and sid
- German Football Association (DFB)
