Liverpool’s daring summer season overhaul continues with the blockbuster signing of Florian Wirtz, whose £100 million base charge – plus £16 million in potential add-ons – marks the most important switch within the membership’s historical past and presumably the Premier League’s. The 21-year-old German expertise joins from Bayer Leverkusen after an excellent season that positioned him amongst Europe’s most sought-after midfielders.
Whereas Liverpool have already secured Jeremie Frimpong to cowl for Trent Alexander-Arnold and ensured the futures of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, Wirtz’s arrival provides an elite inventive drive to a aspect aiming to stay on the summit of English soccer. Official affirmation got here Friday evening, with Wirtz unveiled in Liverpool crimson, beaming at first of what he referred to as “a brand new journey.”
The midfielder, able to working wherever throughout the attacking third, is considered by many as a generational expertise. Together with his dribbling, disguised passes, and skill to dictate tempo, comparisons to Kevin De Bruyne and Thiago Alcantara have emerged. Analysts consider Wirtz’s intelligence, imaginative and prescient, and approach make him one of many few able to redefining midfield roles within the Premier League.
His stats again the hype. Wirtz recorded 18 objectives and 20 assists in Leverkusen’s historic 2023-24 title-winning season and adopted that up with 16 objectives and 15 assists this time period. Solely Mohamed Salah amongst Europe’s prime leagues matched his constant double-digit contributions over two straight seasons. He additionally led Germany in accomplished dribbles, outperforming the likes of Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise.
Past creativity, his defensive work is a bonus. Wirtz was second solely to Olise in successful possession within the closing third within the Bundesliga. Liverpool’s recruitment crew has praised his stability of labor fee and aptitude, a trait supervisor Arne Slot prioritises. Wirtz is predicted to fit in as a quantity 10, simply forward of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, a midfield trio that might dominate Europe.
Slot isn’t alone in betting huge on Wirtz. Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester Metropolis additionally explored strikes however balked on the charge. Metropolis opted for Rayan Cherki as a less expensive different, however insiders recommend Pep Guardiola’s aspect noticed Wirtz because the true successor to De Bruyne’s throne. The Reds, nevertheless, acted first and decisively.
Liverpool followers are proper to be excited. The German’s maturity belies his age, and whereas his price ticket invitations strain, Wirtz’s trajectory suggests he could thrive within the highlight. Analysts already regard him as a future Ballon d’Or winner, with potential to form the Premier League for years to come back.
In a post-Messi and Ronaldo period, Wirtz joins the dialog with Lamine Yamal and Désiré Doué as soccer’s subsequent nice generational hope. Liverpool, as soon as once more, could have captured brilliance earlier than its peak.
