Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Florian Wirtz in a deal worth up to €150 million, including add-ons.
The transfer will make Wirtz the most expensive signing in British football history, overtaking the £115 million Chelsea paid Brighton & Hove Albion for Moises Caicedo.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is considered one of the most gifted talents in European football and played a central role in Leverkusen’s 2023/24 Bundesliga triumph.
Liverpool have beaten competition from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, with Wirtz opting for Anfield after being impressed by Arne Slot’s plans to use him as a number ten.
Sporting director Richard Hughes led the negotiations, offering Leverkusen a package built around performance-related add-ons, including bonuses for Champions League qualification.
Wirtz will become Liverpool’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong from the same club.
The deal further signals Liverpool’s intent to refresh their squad as they prepare to defend their Premier League title under Slot.
Wirtz’s arrival will inject creativity into a midfield that has evolved rapidly over the past 12 months.
Former club FC Koln, where Wirtz spent nearly a decade in their academy before joining Leverkusen at 17, will benefit from the transfer.
Under FIFA regulations, they are entitled to five percent of the fee as part of the training compensation scheme.
Koln president Werner Wolf has confirmed the club will push to receive the full amount, which could exceed £5m.
