Florian Wirtz is a sure bet at Liverpool but Newcastle are gambling on Nick Woltemade | Philipp Lahm
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Liverpool made a record-breaking signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in June 2025 for an initial £100 million, with an additional £16 million in conditional add-ons. This £116 million deal was Liverpool's highest ever transfer fee and would have been a British record if all add-ons were triggered. The bonuses hinge on Liverpool winning either the Premier League or the Champions League four times. The payment plan is spread over five installments, easing the club’s financial burden, similar to their deal for Alexander Isak. Wirtz signed a contract until 2030 and has started in all three of Liverpool’s Premier League matches so far, but is still adapting to the league’s physical style and tactical demands under manager Arne Slot[1].
Despite early criticism and a slow start with no goals yet in the league, Wirtz has shown glimpses of his potential, especially highlighted during international duty where he scored a notable goal for Germany against Northern Ireland. The German midfielder acknowledged the adjustment period to the Premier League, emphasizing it as a different style of football. He expressed optimism about scoring his first Liverpool goal soon, underscoring his confidence in settling into his new role[3].
Former Bayern Munich star Michael Ballack revealed Bayern’s unsuccessful attempts to sign both Wirtz and German striker Nick Woltemade during the same transfer window, with Bayern losing out to Liverpool and Newcastle respectively. Wirtz’s choice to join Liverpool over Bayern, despite the latter’s almost guaranteed domestic success, signals changing dynamics in football transfers and the attractiveness of the Premier League’s challenge, even for top German talents. Though early performances have drawn some skepticism, experts point out that Wirtz’s skills and quality make him unlikely to fail at Liverpool in the long term[2][4].
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