The recent transfer of German Footballer Florian Wirtz to Premier League Side, Liverpool, has spiraled conversations in many quarters.
Pelumi Abiara and Sam Ayoola combine to explain the importance of the £116 million signing for Liverpool and for football.
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In what has the potential to become the stand-out deal of the summer, Liverpool has confirmed the signing of German talent, Florian Wirtz Liverpool for a club-record fee, at £100million (€117.2m; $135.5m) with £16m add-ons — and could also become an all time British record transfer if the extras are realised.
For a player of his quality, it was pretty much a straightforward catch for the red side of Merseyside, who were of course ready to splash the cash.
After making his intentions known to depart Bayern Leverkusen, it was unsurprising that he attracted the interest of the best teams across Europe. While many players his age would be lured by financial incentives, Wirtz was succinct about his choice: a new league and the right footballing fit. This put Liverpool in the driving seat to capture the supremely talented 22-year-old.
Credit must also be given to Liverpool’s intentional approach. Sporting director Richard Hughes started the process as far back as March with a fascinating futuristic plan involving the player, and Manager, Arne Slot complimented this with a clear plan for Wirtz – exactly how he would fit in into a team that has dominated, and convincingly won, arguably the most competitive league in the world.
Why Florian Wirtz?
With the departure of a generational talent like Trent Alexander-Arnold, who carved out a unique deep playmaking role — from right back — at Anfield before his move to Real Madrid, the task of replacing his creativity was monumental. The club recognised that it was impossible to replace TAA like-for-like, Liverpool had to be creative and made a decision to sign Florian Wirtz, arguably the most coveted creative profile in European football.
But is he truly worth the hype and the colossal investment? The answer, when diving into the analytics, appears to be a resounding yes, especially considering the strategic void he fills.
Based on a comprehensive analysis of Florian Wirtz’s statistical profile, tactical value, and comparison to other elite midfield transfers, here’s an evidence-backed assessment of his worth for Liverpool:
In addition to his 44 league goal involvements (21goals + 23assists) since 2023/24, notching double figures in both goals and assists in the last two seasons, Florian Wirtz is a player who operates with remarkable efficiency and precision. He has a reputation as a low-touch, high-efficiency orchestrator who dictates play without unnecessary ball retention.
As evidenced by the data in the last two seasons, Wirtz ranked in the 98th percentile for progressive carries (7.41/90) and 94th percentile for carries into the penalty area (1.83/90) among U-23 wingers, while maintaining an 82.4% dribble success rate.
The graph below illustrates how effectively Wirtz progresses the ball compared to other wingers and Under-23 players across Europe’s top leagues in the 2024/25 seasons. It also highlights his positional versatility and tempo-control impact.
Fig 1. Wirtz’s ball progression and progressive passes vs. U-23 wingers (2025). Source: Opta
Wirtz is distinguished for exceptional decision-making – whether executing defense-splitting through balls or deliberately slowing tempo to reorganize attacks. Last season, he averaged a release time of 1.4 seconds per final-third pass.
Fig 2. Wirtz’s passes under 2 seconds (2025). Source: Opta
This rapid circulation generated 14 first-time assist opportunities. With Liverpool’s deep pool of pacey forwards and dynamic fullbacks, Wirtz’s ability to release runners in transition becomes a lethal weapon against low-block defenses. It also makes Wirtz exceptionally suited to the Premier League’s velocity, where quick decision-making under pressure is paramount.
Weaknesses and Future Impact
His reported weaknesses, such as his physicality on the wing and need for improved runs in behind, are valid. However, these are often attributed to his natural tendency to drift centrally as a “No. 10” or “false nine,” positions where his strengths truly shine. In a Liverpool system under Arne Slot, as aforementioned, it is expected that he will be given the tactical freedom to operate in central areas, mitigating these minor concerns.
Is he worth the amount?
Well, “no player should be bought for that price.” However, the current market dictates astronomical fees for generational talents. When a selling club like Bayer Leverkusen has little incentive to sell their star, they hold all the cards. In such a market, you often have to pay the premium.
With Mohamed Salah nearing the latter stages of his illustrious career, acquiring a talent like Wirtz is not just about replacing Trent’s output, but also about securing the next generation of Liverpool’s offensive talisman. Wirtz brings youth, elite creativity, and a proven track record of winning (undefeated Bundesliga season with Leverkusen).
Mind you, Wirtz will only be joining an elite group of £100m+ signings in the Prem (Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Jack Grealish). And, given his age (22), his consistency, his leadership qualities, and his fit for Liverpool’s tactical needs, the high fee represents an investment in the club’s offensive future for the next decade.
If he replicates his Bundesliga form in the Premier League, he will undeniably make Liverpool a significantly better and more formidable team.
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This article was put together by Pelumi Abiara and Sam Ayoola
