Liverpool 'reach agreement' for Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz in British record deal
Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz in a club-record deal worth as much as £116million.
According to reports in The Athletic, the Reds will pay £100m up front, with £16m in performance-based add-ons to follow.
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Wirtz will sign a five-year deal, keeping him at Anfield through 2030, but has not yet undergone a medical. The deal will be formalised when the transfer window reopens on June 16, following the Club World Cup.
The deal comfortably eclipses the £85m Liverpool spent to secure Darwin Nunez's services from Benfica in 2022, and could mark a British transfer record if add-ons are activated. Chelsea currently hold the record after spending £115m to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton in 2023.
Liverpool have secured a slight discount on Leverkusen's initial asking price of €150m after extended negotiations, during which they saw multiple offers rejected.
Negotiations were reportedly held up as the two clubs discussed payment structures. The add-ons are thought to be linked to Liverpool winning major trophies during Wirtz's tenure.
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Wirtz, who has already visited Merseyside to look at homes, will join his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong at Anfield. The full-back was signed as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold earlier this summer.
Wirtz had also been targeted by German champions Bayern Munich, but is reported to have favoured a move to Merseyside throughout negotiations. Liverpool also priced Bayern out of the deal, as director of sport Max Eberl revealed they could not match the Reds' offer.
The 22-year-old German was named the Bundesliga player of the year last season after scoring 18 goals and assisting a further 20 in 49 appearances.
He completed 90 minutes in both of Germany's Nations League matches earlier this month, scoring in a 2-1 loss to Portugal. He has 31 caps to his name.
His arrival will afford Arne Slot fresh tactical flexibility, allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to sit in a deeper position better suited to his strengths.
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