Liverpool Completes Record £116m Florian Wirtz Transfer from Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz's record-breaking transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool, reportedly worth up to £126 million, became official in June, marking a significant move in the summer transfer window. Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes revealed that the club initially aimed to extend Wirtz’s contract but gradually realized his growing interest in moving abroad, with discussions intensifying from February and March. Wirtz personally informed the club in May that Liverpool was his preferred destination, after which negotiations began exclusively with Liverpool, who outpaced rivals Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Rolfes emphasized that Liverpool’s professional and serious approach, including clear communication about why they wanted Wirtz, was a critical factor in securing the deal. The negotiations were conducted remotely through phone, email, and video conferences due to the existing close relationships between the clubs. Leverkusen insisted on receiving their valuation before finalizing the transfer, ensuring that all parties involved were comfortable with the outcome.