The Reds had two bids rejected, the last one of £113m which would have seen £100m paid up front with performance-related add-ons, but have finally got the deal over the line.

Liverpool will still pay an initial £100m – comfortably surpassing their own record outlay – but the performance-related add-ons, if achieved, would make it a potential British record.

Leverkusen had valued the 22-year-old Germany international around £125m but regardless, Liverpool’s overall outlay could surpass the £115m Chelsea paid Brighton in 2023 for Moises Caicedo – who turned down Anfield after the Seagulls had accepted an offer which was subsequently matched by their Premier League rivals.

Striker Darwin Nunez was their previous record signing in 2022, although they have not paid the full £85m as he has not met all the requirements for certain add-ons to be due.

Florian Wirtz medical details as Liverpool 'agree British record deal' to sign German star	Florian Wirtz to Liverpool gets closer as Reds 'agree British record deal' to sign German star	Liverpool agree British record £116MILLION Florian Wirtz transfer as breakdown of how fee will be paid is revealed

Liverpool, like a number of top European clubs, had been watching Wirtz for some time but did not consider themselves front-runners for his signature.

However, after Manchester City pulled out, reportedly due to the spiralling costs of the whole package, and Wirtz expressed a preference for Merseyside over Bayern Munich, sporting director Richard Hughes changed gear.

Talks were already ongoing with Leverkusen over Jeremie Frimpong, who became the first new addition to Arne Slot’s squad in a £30m deal late last month, which made the line of communication easier.

Hughes’ connections with his former club Bournemouth mean he was also well-placed to progress talks with the Cherries over the signing of left-back Milos Kerkez, a player he originally brought to the Premier League.


For more news relating to Chelsea, visit our sister site Chelsea Latest Live.