Wirtz seals blockbuster Liverpool move from Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz has accomplished his blockbuster transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool.

The midfielder has signed a long-term take care of the Reds, which is known to be 5 years, becoming a member of for a reported club-record price of £100m, plus a possible £16m in add-ons.

Bayern Munich and Manchester Metropolis have been additionally mentioned to be within the working for his signature, however Wirtz opted to affix the Premier League champions.

Wirtz made his skilled debut for Leverkusen in Could 2020, turning into the membership’s youngest debutant within the Bundesliga at 17 years and 15 days.

He was a pivotal determine for the Werkself underneath Xabi Alonso, making 119 appearances underneath the Spaniard, whereas scoring 38 targets and offering 43 assists.

“I really feel very completely happy and really proud. Lastly, it’s performed and I used to be ready for a very long time – lastly it’s performed and I’m actually completely happy,” Wirtz instructed the membership’s web site.

“I’m actually excited to have a brand new journey in entrance of me. This was additionally a giant level of my ideas: that I need to have one thing fully new, to exit of the Bundesliga and to affix the Premier League.

“I’ll see how I can carry out there. I hope I can do my greatest. I spoke additionally with some gamers who performed there, and so they instructed me that it’s good for me, and each pitch is ideal; you’ll be able to take pleasure in each recreation. I’m actually wanting ahead to enjoying my first recreation.”

Wirtz helped the membership to their first-ever Bundesliga in 2023-24, in addition to the DFB-Pokal, in Leverkusen’s unbeaten home season.

He adopted that up with 30 objective involvements final time period. His 16 targets have been solely second to Patrik Schick (27) among the many workforce, scoring his tally from 13.8 anticipated targets (xG).

Wirtz additionally recorded essentially the most assists (14), whereas solely Alex Grimaldo (107) created extra probabilities than his 91 amongst Leverkusen gamers in all competitions final season.

Previously two Bundesliga campaigns, Wirtz accomplished essentially the most dribbles amongst all gamers within the competitors (161), having tried 446.

He’s Liverpool’s second signing from Leverkusen on this window, following Jeremie Frimpong to Anfield, whereas the membership are additionally reportedly near bringing in Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, with stories on Friday suggesting a price had been agreed.

Wirtz might make his aggressive Liverpool debut within the FA Neighborhood Defend in opposition to Crystal Palace on August 10.