Medical and Transfer Completion
Liverpool are poised to complete the £119.2m (€140m) transfer of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz by Friday, June 20, 2025, with the 22-year-old German playmaker scheduled for a medical on Thursday, June 19, following his return from holiday on Wednesday. The deal, a club-record for Liverpool, includes a €117.5m (£100m) base fee and up to €22.5m (£19.2m) in add-ons, potentially surpassing Chelsea’s £115m for Moises Caicedo as a British record. Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol confirms Wirtz will sign a five-year contract until 2030, earning £195,000 to £245,000 weekly, placing him third among Liverpool’s top earners behind Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
Wirtz’s Premier League Readiness
Concerns about Wirtz’s ability to handle the Premier League’s physicality, given his 5ft 10in frame, have been dismissed by former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann. Speaking on the Aldo Meets Podcast, Hamann said, “He’s like a street kid, he won’t shirk a challenge. He can look after himself and won’t be afraid of physicality.” With 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 Leverkusen games, Wirtz’s technical prowess (161 successful dribbles in 2023-24 Bundesliga) and versatility as a No. 10 or winger make him a “transformative” signing, akin to Alisson and Van Dijk, per Hamann.
Financial Details and Motivation
Solhekol revealed Wirtz’s wages could rise to £12.7m annually (€14.9m) with performance bonuses, a significant increase from his £72,368 weekly at Leverkusen. Despite turning down higher offers from Bayern Munich, Wirtz emphasized career over money, stating last month, “The sporting perspective is more decisive than money.” Liverpool’s financial capacity, boosted by £700m in 2024/25 revenue from their Premier League title and Champions League return, supports the deal, with only £69.9m in outstanding transfer fees owed, per The Athletic.
What’s Next?
Wirtz’s medical on Thursday will finalize Liverpool’s biggest signing since Fernando Torres, following Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m arrival. The Reds, under Arne Slot, are also targeting Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez (£45m) and a Sporting CP star, possibly Viktor Gyökeres, to replace Darwin Núñez, who favors a European move amid Al-Hilal interest. Potential exits of Núñez and Federico Chiesa could add £90m to fund further transfers, while Andy Robertson’s desire for Atletico Madrid adds intrigue. Fans on X are ecstatic, with @LivEchoLFC noting Wirtz’s imminent medical, but await confirmation post-window reopening on June 16.
