Florian Wirtz is on the verge of officially becoming a Liverpool player, with his unveiling expected to happen very soon. The Merseyside club is currently focusing on wrapping up Wirtz’s high-profile transfer before shifting full attention to securing the services of Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.
The Reds’ summer transfer activity has been picking up pace since the official reopening of the transfer window on Monday, June 16. So far, new manager Arne Slot has welcomed Jeremie Frimpong — who previously played alongside Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen — as well as Armin Pecsi, signed from Hungarian side Puskas Akademia. Wirtz is expected to be the next major addition to Slot’s evolving squad.
Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports that Liverpool are set to make the official announcement of Wirtz’s signing on Friday. The two clubs have reached a full agreement on the deal, which is only awaiting the completion of Wirtz’s medical examination. However, the young German midfielder has yet to undergo the required tests, as he has been enjoying a holiday following his impressive season and international duties.
The financial terms of the transfer are monumental. Liverpool have agreed to pay £100 million upfront to Bayer Leverkusen, making it the most expensive transfer in the club’s history in terms of guaranteed fees. Additionally, the deal includes a further £16 million in potential add-ons. These bonus payments are performance-based and hinge on achievements such as Liverpool winning the Premier League or Champions League, and even on Wirtz reaching major individual milestones like winning the Ballon d’Or.
When it comes to his salary, initial speculation had suggested that Wirtz could be in line to earn more than £300,000 per week. However, more reliable reports now indicate that Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, has managed to negotiate a more balanced and sustainable contract. According to *The Athletic*, Wirtz is expected to earn approximately £200,000 per week, with performance-related bonuses included. This wage package is in line with Liverpool’s long-standing financial structure, similar to the model used in Mo Salah’s contract.
With this signing, Liverpool have set a new benchmark in their transfer history. The £100 million upfront fee surpasses the £75 million they paid for Virgil van Dijk in 2018. Although Darwin Núñez’s transfer could exceed that amount once all add-ons are triggered, Wirtz now becomes the club’s record signing in terms of initial cost. This bold move underscores the club’s confidence in Wirtz’s immense potential and their commitment to rebuilding under Arne Slot with elite, young talent.
