Winning the 2024/25 Premier League title clearly wasn't enough to satisfy Liverpool. Even amid the championship celebrations, the club reaffirmed its commitment to return stronger next season. And this was far from mere rhetoric.
Liverpool made a bold statement by smashing their transfer record to secure the signing of Florian Wirtz. The attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen was acquired for a staggering €136.3 million.
This landmark move signals a serious intent: the Arne Slot era is not simply a transitional phase — it's the beginning of a more aggressive strategy in the top-tier transfer market.
Historically, Liverpool have been known for their conservative spending, especially when it comes to marquee signings. However, Wirtz is a notable exception, comparable to the transformative arrivals of Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk. In fact, since the signing of Fernando Torres in 2007, no attacking player has generated this level of excitement prior to making his debut.
Even the likes of Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, and Roberto Firmino didn’t attract this much attention before they wore the Liverpool shirt. Wirtz, widely regarded as the crown jewel of German football, arrives with immense anticipation.
At just 22 years old, Wirtz already boasts a portfolio that had Europe’s elite clubs lining up for his signature. Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid were all reportedly interested. Yet it was Liverpool — fresh off a title-winning campaign — who ultimately secured his commitment.
Some see this signing as a turning point for Fenway Sports Group, known for its frugal financial approach. However, in truth, the club's transfer philosophy has not drastically changed. Just two seasons ago, Liverpool were prepared to pay £111 million for Moisés Caicedo, only for the midfielder to choose Chelsea instead.
The Reds also lost out to Chelsea in the race for Romeo Lavia, and ultimately settled for a pragmatic solution by signing Wataru Endo for £16 million — a stopgap in a frustrating market.
Last season, Liverpool exercised restraint once again. Federico Chiesa was Arne Slot’s only major acquisition, while goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to join this summer.
