Liverpool Breaks Transfer Record with £116 Million Deal for Florian Wirtz
In a historic move announced on Friday, English club Liverpool has shattered transfer records with a staggering £116 million ($157 million) deal to secure the services of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
The reigning Premier League champions have agreed to an initial fee of £100 million, marking a significant increase from their previous record-breaking transfers. With performance-related bonuses factored in, the total sum could potentially set a new British record in football transfers.
Liverpool’s investment in the 22-year-old German international surpasses the £115 million that Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo in 2023, highlighting the club’s ambition to strengthen their squad with top talent.
Comparatively, Chelsea’s acquisition of midfielder Caicedo for an initial £100 million, potentially rising to £115 million, had set a benchmark in the transfer market.
Liverpool’s previous record signing, striker Darwin Nunez in 2022, came with a price tag of £85 million. However, the club has yet to pay the full amount as Nunez has not met all the stipulated performance criteria for the additional payments.
While Manchester City had expressed interest in Wirtz, they reportedly withdrew from the negotiations citing concerns over the escalating costs associated with the deal.