Liverpool sign Florian Wirtz for record-breaking £116m deal

Liverpool have pulled off a sensational transfer coup by securing the services of Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz in a deal worth up to £116 million.

The move makes the 22-year-old German playmaker not only Liverpool’s most expensive signing ever, but also potentially the costliest acquisition in British football history.

According to details of the agreement, Leverkusen will receive an initial fee of £100 million, with an additional £16 million tied to performance-based bonuses. These bonuses will only be triggered if Liverpool clinch major trophies during Wirtz’s time at the club — a condition that underscores the club’s high expectations for silverware.

Should those add-ons be activated, Wirtz’s transfer would surpass the previous British transfer records set by Chelsea — £107 million for Enzo Fernández in 2023 and £115 million for Moisés Caicedo a year later.

The deal comfortably surpasses Liverpool’s previous outlays: the £75 million spent on Virgil van Dijk in 2018 and the package that could rise to £85 million for Darwin Núñez. Manchester City explored a move for Wirtz before backing away over cost, while Bayern Munich also registered interest. Wirtz, however, made clear his preference for an Anfield switch, allowing Liverpool to settle slightly below Leverkusen’s £126 million valuation.

A prodigy who debuted at 17, Wirtz scored 57 goals in 197 appearances and inspired Leverkusen’s maiden Bundesliga title in 2024. Internationally, he has seven goals in 31 caps since 2021. He is poised to become Liverpool’s second recruit from Leverkusen this summer after right‑back Jeremie Frimpong’s £34 million arrival.

Manager Arne Slot—fresh from guiding the club to the 2024‑25 Premier League crown in his first season—has also targeted Bournemouth left‑back Milos Kerkez in talks believed to be worth £45‑50 million. Last summer’s restrained spending, limited to £12.5 million on Federico Chiesa and £29 million on goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili (who joins ahead of the new campaign), provided room for this year’s splash.

Departures have brought funds too. Goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher joined Brentford for an initial £12.5 million (potentially £18 million), and England right‑back Trent Alexander‑Arnold has moved to Real Madrid. Sources at Anfield say Madrid paid around €10 million (£8.4 million) to release the defender before his contract ended on 30 June so he could feature in this month’s Club World Cup, though Spanish reports claim the fee was lower.