Müller Criticizes Liverpool’s €150M Signing of Florian Wirtz: “It’s an Absurd Number”
Germany international Thomas Müller has publicly criticized Liverpool for their record-breaking move to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, calling the €150 million transfer fee “absurd.”
The 34-year-old Bayern Munich veteran, known for his outspokenness, questioned the recent surge in astronomical transfer fees across European football — using Wirtz’s transfer to Anfield as a prime example.
“€150 million is a ridiculous number,” Müller told reporters. “It’s just a figure on a contract between clubs. Who can truly grasp what that amount means? You can’t buy Neymar anymore with it — but you could plant a lot of trees. How do we measure the real value of €150 million? You may not buy the most wonderful things with that money, but you can certainly do a lot of good with it.”
Wirtz’s switch to Liverpool makes him the most expensive signing of this summer, though Neymar still holds the all-time record with his €222 million move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017.
Despite his criticism of the fee, Müller didn’t hesitate to praise Wirtz’s quality:
“I think he can play in any position. Florian is not only a great footballer, he also has a very strong mentality,” Müller said.
Wirtz, 21, joined Liverpool on a five-year contract and is expected to play a leading role under new manager Arne Slot. The German star arrives at Anfield following a stellar season with Leverkusen, where he contributed 29 goal involvements (16 goals, 13 assists).
Liverpool, fresh off a Premier League title win, have shown no signs of slowing down in the transfer market. The Reds have already spent nearly €200 million this summer, bringing in Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and goalkeepers Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman.
The club is also closing in on a €40 million deal for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi, as Arne Slot looks to reshape the squad for both domestic and European dominance.
With financial muscle strengthened by their league success and Champions League run, Liverpool’s aggressive transfer activity has sparked admiration — and in Müller’s case, pointed skepticism.
