Liverpool have signed Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a club record £116m. The 22-year-old has signed a long-term deal with the Reds, understood to be five years which will keep him at Anfield until at least 2030, after completing a medical at the club's training ground on Friday. The deal, which includes a guaranteed £100m and a further £16m in add-ons, tops Liverpool's previous club record signing of Virgil van Dijk for £75m in 2018. Should those add-ons be achieved, Wirtz's move to Anfield would become a British transfer record to beat the £107m Chelsea paid Benfica for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez in 2023. Wirtz, who has scored 57 goals in 197 Leverkusen appearances, is Liverpool's second major signing of the summer and the club's second from the Bundesliga runners-up following thearrival of Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpongfor £29.5m last month. More to follow.
Liverpool sign Leverkusen's Wirtz in £116m deal
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Liverpool Completes £116 Million Signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen"
Bbc News
8.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Liverpool Football Club has made a significant investment by signing German playmaker Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a club-record fee of £116 million. The 22-year-old midfielder has secured a long-term contract with the Reds, which is believed to extend for five years, ensuring his presence at Anfield until at least 2030. This landmark deal consists of a guaranteed £100 million, supplemented by an additional £16 million in performance-related add-ons. If all conditions for the add-ons are met, Wirtz's transfer would surpass the previous British record of £107 million, which Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in 2023. Wirtz's acquisition marks a new chapter for Liverpool, as he becomes the club's most expensive signing, eclipsing the former record held by Virgil van Dijk, who was purchased for £75 million in 2018.
Wirtz's arrival is expected to bolster Liverpool's attacking options, as he has demonstrated impressive performance metrics during his time at Leverkusen, netting 57 goals in 197 appearances. His signing follows the recent addition of Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who joined Liverpool from Leverkusen for £29.5 million last month. This indicates a strategic focus from Liverpool on strengthening their squad with top talent from the Bundesliga. The club's management has expressed confidence in Wirtz's abilities to enhance their midfield dynamics and contribute significantly to their pursuit of domestic and European glory in the coming seasons. As the summer transfer window progresses, Liverpool fans are eager to see how Wirtz will integrate into the team's playing style under manager Jurgen Klopp, with expectations high for the new signing to make an immediate impact on the pitch.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.