Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has claimed it’s a “real shame” to see Florian Wirtz join Liverpool.

The Reds have agreed an initial deal of £100 million ($136M) to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, with a further £16M ($22M) in potential add-ons.

That explains the disappointment in Germany, that the league’s star name - who was voted player of the season in each of the last two years - is set to depart.

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Dortmund chief Watzke also serves as the DFL (German Football League) chairman of the supervisory board and feels the Bundesliga will suffer from Wirtz’s exit.

“It’s a real shame, especially for the DFL, that a player like Florian Wirtz is leaving the Bundesliga.

DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 25: CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke of Borussia Dortmund during the Borussia Dortmund Annual General Meeting Of Shareholders on November 25, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.

He’ll play at the highest level in Liverpool, too.

“He could have worked better with [Jamal] Musiala in Munich, but two such good footballers can find each other anyway.”

The frustration from Germany may stem from a belief that, excluding Bayern, no Bundesliga club can compete with the finances of sides from the Premier League.

“I am sure that we will have a competitive team - and that we will also have the finances under control,” Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director, told Sky Germany last week

Florian Wirtz is an outstanding player