Liverpool Land Florian Wirtz: German Wonderkid Poised to Light Up Anfield
It’s no longer a whisper, nor a rumour you scroll past on social media. Florian Wirtz is set to become a Liverpool player, with the 22-year-old expected on Merseyside this week for a medical ahead of a blockbuster move from Bayer Leverkusen.
An agreement reached with Leverkusen last Friday, believed to be worth up to £116.5 million including add-ons, will make Wirtz one of the most expensive players in British football history. The move isn’t just seismic in terms of money, it represents Liverpool’s sharp return to the top table of Europe’s transfer market — a pointed statement from Premier League champions who’ve reasserted their power under Arne Slot.
Shifting Allegiances in Germany
In Germany, the reaction has been far from unanimous. On talkSPORT’s Trans Europe Express, German football journalist Raphael Honigstein didn’t hold back.
“For the Bundesliga, of course, it’s a shame to not see him for a little bit longer,” he explained. “I think he’s going to be the next superstar like [Kevin] De Bruyne, like [Erling] Haaland, that people would have liked to see a bit longer.”
There’s a sense of collective disappointment — not necessarily anger — across German football, but one club in particular will feel the sting more than most. Bayern Munich’s aggressive pursuit of Wirtz was no secret. Yet despite their best efforts and usual dominance in hoovering up domestic talent, they’ve been rebuffed.
“Bayern feel, of course, that they have missed out,” Honigstein continued. “They’ve been very, very vocal, as they often are, about trying to get him in. When they do that, of course they are exposed, and they’ve been the target of a lot of shunning for that, as you can expect, in Germany because they missed out on him.”
Liverpool’s Growing Pull in Germany
While Bayern lick their wounds, there’s little resentment towards Liverpool, who are now firmly entrenched as a beloved club among many German supporters. Jurgen Klopp’s tenure certainly helped build that bridge, but Arne Slot’s Premier League triumph in his debut season has kept the momentum going.
Honigstein believes the move could actually boost interest in English football back in Germany.
“At the same time, I think German football will be happy. It’s not the Bundesliga, but it is Florian Wirtz playing – just like [Jurgen] Klopp was coaching – at such a massive club in the Premier League,” he said. “I think the attention will be huge for him, and more people than ever before will watch Liverpool with him, trying to figure out where his journey is heading, what his role will be.”
In truth, the deal underlines a fundamental shift in European football’s power balance. Bayern’s previous successes in attracting elite German talent — from Lahm to Neuer to Hummels — are no longer guarantees. Wirtz’s decision to spurn their interest in favour of Anfield signals a generational shift, not just in his career, but in how top German prospects view their options.
Big Gamble or Calculated Coup?
For Liverpool, the fee might raise eyebrows. Over £100 million for a player yet to taste Premier League football is a huge outlay, particularly for owners like FSG who have often prioritised financial sustainability. But the club’s track record in big-money signings — from Alisson to Van Dijk — suggests their due diligence is thorough.
Wirtz is not just a flashy technician, he’s a well-rounded talent. Didi Hamann, familiar with both Anfield and the Bundesliga, is confident the playmaker has what it takes to thrive.
Hamann pointed out Wirtz’s blend of flair and physicality, traits essential for adapting to England’s high-speed football. With Wirtz’s creativity, Liverpool are not just bolstering their midfield, they’re potentially redefining it.
For German football fans, his absence will be felt. But in a league long dominated by Bayern, there’s also relief that Wirtz isn’t staying in the Bundesliga to strengthen their stranglehold. Instead, he’ll be donning Liverpool red, ready to test himself at the highest level under the bright lights of Anfield.
