Liverpool have sealed a sensational £116 million agreement to sign German attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, making him the club’s most expensive signing in history.

The deal includes an upfront payment of £100 million, with an additional £16 million in performance-related add-ons. These bonuses would only become payable if the Reds achieve sustained success, potentially making the move a new British record.

While Chelsea’s £107m acquisition of Enzo Fernandez remains the record for an initial fee, Wirtz’s move could surpass that figure depending on Liverpool’s performance. The fee also eclipses Liverpool’s previous transfer record — the £85m paid for Darwin Núñez and the £75m deal for Virgil van Dijk.

Wirtz, 22, was a long-term target for several European giants. Manchester City showed interest but backed off due to the cost, while Bayern Munich were also linked. However, the midfielder reportedly expressed a strong preference for a move to Anfield, allowing Liverpool to negotiate a slightly lower fee than Leverkusen’s £126m valuation.

The talented playmaker made his senior debut for Leverkusen at just 17 and has since become one of Europe’s standout attacking midfielders. He netted 57 goals in 197 appearances and played a key role in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title win in 2024.

On the international stage, Wirtz has made 31 appearances for Germany since 2021, scoring seven goals and cementing his place as a central figure in the national team setup.

Wirtz becomes Liverpool’s second signing from Leverkusen this summer, following the £34m capture of right-back Jeremie Frimpong. The club is also in negotiations with Bournemouth for a potential £45m–£50m deal for left-back Milos Kerkez as they continue to strengthen ahead of the 2025/26 season.