Liverpool have sealed the most expensive transfer in Premier League history with the signing of German playmaker Florian Wirtz — and former manager Jürgen Klopp’s reaction says a lot about the club’s bold new era.
The 22-year-old midfielder completed his move from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield for a record £116 million, agreeing to a five-year contract. Liverpool beat out the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich to secure one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents, paying £100 million upfront with an additional £16 million in performance-based add-ons.
Speaking to German broadcaster RTL, Jürgen Klopp expressed his excitement over the signing: “It’s going to be really, really great,” Klopp said. “I’m sure of it.”
Klopp continued: “It’s hard to strengthen a team that just won the Premier League, but Liverpool have done that. They’ve signed a truly special talent in Florian Wirtz.”
The move marks the club’s biggest acquisition since Klopp departed Anfield and handed the reins to Arne Slot — who has already led Liverpool to a Premier League title in his first season. As a reward, the club backed Slot with a historic transfer budget, and Wirtz is the crown jewel of this summer’s business.
Wirtz, speaking after the official announcement, explained why he chose Liverpool despite having offers from multiple European giants: “I just felt this was the right moment in my career to take the next step,” Wirtz said. “I wanted to join a club that belongs in the top three in the world — and for me, Liverpool is one of them.”
He added: “I felt that I would be taken care of here in the best possible way. The people, the vision, and everything the club stands for convinced me.”
However, Wirtz acknowledged the decision wasn’t easy: “It’s never simple for me, as a German international, to leave home. But the conversations I had with Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes were incredible. Every time we spoke, I felt like, ‘This is the place I want to be.’ That’s when I knew, 100%, I had to join Liverpool.”
The signing of Wirtz — following the acquisitions of Jeremie Frimpong and a nearly finalized deal for Milos Kerkez — signals Liverpool’s massive ambition under Arne Slot. And with Klopp’s blessing, it’s clear the club is ready to build something even more formidable in the post-Klopp era.