Florian Wirtz: Four Transfer Records That Liverpool Will Shatter When Blockbuster Deal Goes Through

Liverpool have begun the summer transfer window impressively and are currently pushing to finalise a high-profile move for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

The attacking midfielder recorded 10 goals and 13 assists in 31 Bundesliga matches during the 2024/25 season and is considered among the most promising young talents across Europe.

“You can see the ability every time he gets on the ball,” teammate Nathan Tella told Sky Sports. “He’s one of those players in between the lines, he can dribble, he can create passes, he can score.

“For me as a forward he’s great to play with. I’m happy that I’ve been able to play with him and I hope I can continue to still play with him.”

Despite interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, the 22-year-old midfielder is reportedly set on a switch to Anfield, having already agreed personal terms on a proposed five-year contract.

Liverpool have had two offers turned down by Leverkusen, with the most recent bid believed to be around €130million (£109m / \$148m).

The Bundesliga outfit are said to be holding out for €150million (£126m / \$171m), and if the Reds agree to meet that valuation, it would break several transfer records.

Here’s an in-depth look at the records Liverpool and Wirtz could potentially break if the deal goes ahead…

Most Expensive Liverpool Signing

If the deal goes through as anticipated, Wirtz’s transfer to Liverpool will eclipse Darwin Nunez’s fee, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Nunez had emerged as one of the world’s top young strikers after scoring 34 goals in 41 matches for Benfica during the 2021/22 campaign.

Liverpool agreed to an initial payment of £64million to the Portuguese side, with a further £21.4million in add-ons, bringing the total deal to £85.4million.

However, the Uruguay international has found it difficult to live up to that valuation, contributing 40 goals and 26 assists across 143 appearances for the Reds.

He has seen limited game time under Arne Slot, and reports suggest Liverpool are now exploring a possible sale to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in an effort to recover part of their investment.

Most Expensive Premier League Signing

Ahead of Wirtz’s expected switch to Liverpool, only four transfers in Premier League history have surpassed the £100million mark.

Manchester City paid £100million to sign Jack Grealish, while Arsenal secured the services of Declan Rice for the same amount, with an additional £5million included in potential add-ons. Enzo Fernandez moved to Chelsea in a deal valued at £106.8million.

Moises Caicedo followed Fernandez to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023, with an initial transfer fee of £100million and up to £15million in add-ons, making him the most expensive player in Premier League history.

Liverpool were also prepared to break the British transfer record for Caicedo and had agreed a £111million fee with Brighton & Hove Albion. However, the midfielder opted to join Chelsea instead.

Caicedo had a slow start during his first season at Chelsea but eventually regained top form.

By the end of the 2024/25 season, he was voted both Chelsea’s Player of the Season and the Players’ Player of the Season.

“At the beginning, I felt the pressure,” Caicedo said when asked about the transfer fee. “In my mind, I wanted to show my best football and why the club paid the money for me.

“After that, I started to speak with people who helped me understand that if Chelsea signed me it’s because I am worth it. I have kept on playing and I know I have to show my best on the pitch.”

Most Expensive Bayer Leverkusen Sale

After stepping up to fill the gap left by Kai Havertz, Wirtz is now set to surpass his international teammate as the most expensive player ever sold by Bayer Leverkusen.

Havertz, a product of Leverkusen’s academy, made his Bundesliga debut in October 2016 at just 17 years and 126 days old.

He quickly became a standout performer at the BayArena, tallying 36 goals and 25 assists in 118 appearances across all competitions.

His impressive form caught the attention of several top European clubs, and Chelsea secured his signature in the summer of 2020.

Leverkusen initially valued him at £72million, with an additional £20million in potential bonuses, though Chelsea succeeded in negotiating a lower fee.

The London club eventually paid £62million upfront, with £9million in add-ons, bringing the total to £71million.

Havertz went on to score the decisive goal in the 2021 Champions League final, but he struggled for consistency during his time at Stamford Bridge and moved to Arsenal in 2023.

In the wake of Havertz’s exit, Wirtz established himself as a key figure in Leverkusen’s first team and played a crucial role in helping the club secure their maiden Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season.

“The sale of Kai Havertz,” Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said in 2024 when asked how they had become successful. “The income allowed us to sign many young players around Florian Wirtz, who have grown.”

Most Expensive German Player

In addition to losing his status as Bayer Leverkusen’s record sale, Havertz will also be surpassed as the most expensive German footballer in history.

Wirtz, a native of Pulheim, a suburb of Cologne, made his senior debut for Germany in a match against Liechtenstein in September 2021 and has since earned 29 international caps.

Overall Ranking

Neymar still holds the record for the most expensive transfer in football history following his £198million move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017.

Kylian Mbappe also joined PSG that same summer on an initial loan from Monaco, which was later made permanent for £133million, with an additional £33million in potential add-ons.

Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho ranks third, after Barcelona paid an initial £106.5million to the Reds in January 2018, along with £35.5million in add-ons.

He joined forces with Ousmane Dembele, who had arrived from Borussia Dortmund a few months earlier in a deal worth £96.8million up front, plus £38.7million in add-ons. Dembele has since impressed with standout performances at PSG.

Chelsea offloaded Eden Hazard to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019 in a transfer package worth £130million, including an initial £88.5million payment.

Moises Caicedo and Jude Bellingham, both signed for £115million, currently share sixth place on the list of the most expensive footballers ever — but Wirtz is poised to move ahead of them soon.

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