Deal involves a guaranteed £100 million with £16m in add-ons; Wirtz will complete his medical when the transfer window reopens on 16 June
Liverpool have agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to sign German sensation Florian Wirtz in a £116 million deal that breaks both Liverpool’s and the British transfer record.
The deal involves a guaranteed £100 million, with a further £16.5 million in performance-related add-ons, making Wirtz the most expensive signing in British football history, eclipsing Chelsea’s £115m purchase of Moises Caicedo.
After weeks of negotiations led by sporting director Richard Hughes, a deal was finalised on Friday morning. Leverkusen had been holding out for €150 million (£127.6 million), but the Reds were helped by Wirtz’s clear preference for Anfield over rival suitors such as Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Personal terms have been agreed, and Wirtz will complete his medical when the transfer window reopens on 16 June.
The signing marks a major statement of intent from Liverpool and head coach Arne Slot. Despite interest from higher-paying clubs, Wirtz chose the Premier League champions after direct talks with Slot, which shows the extent of Liverpool’s pull.
The £100 million guaranteed fee shatters the club’s previous record, set by the £85 million signing of Darwin Nunez, a player Liverpool now hope to sell to offset the investment.
Alongside Wirtz, Liverpool have already strengthened further by sealing Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5 million switch from Leverkusen and confirming the £29m arrival of Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Talks continue over Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, valued at £45 million, while outgoings – including the £10 million received from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s switch to Real Madrid – are helping balance the books.
Liverpool have also been efficient spenders in recent windows, spending just £12 million last summer on Federico Chiesa.
