Liverpool agree potential British record deal for Florian Wirtz

By Carl Markham, PA

Premier League champions Liverpool have agreed a club-record deal worth up to £116 million (€136 million) to sign Florian Wirtz after Bayer Leverkusen finally settled on a fee for their playmaker.

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

Liverpool will still pay an initial £100 million (€117 million) – 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 £125 million but regardless, Liverpool’s overall outlay could surpass the £115 million 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 £85 million as he has not met all the requirements for certain add-ons to be due.

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.