Liverpool agree club-record deal to sign Wirtz

AFP | London

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Liverpool have agreed a club-record deal worth up to £116 million ($157 million) to sign attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, it was widely reported yesterday.

British media reported that the Premier League champions would pay an initial £ 1 0 0 million, comfortably surpassing their own record outlay, but the per - for - mance-related add-ons, if achieved, would make it a potential British record.

Reports in Germany suggested the potential fee could rise to 150 million euros (£127 million, $172 million).

Liverpool’s total spend on the 22-year-old Germany international could surpass the £115 million Chelsea agreed to pay Brighton in 2023 for Moises Caicedo, who turned down Anfield.

Midfielder Caicedo cost Chelsea an initial £100 million fee, which could rise to £115 million.

Striker Darwin Nunez was Liverpool’s previous record signing in 2022, although they have not paid the full £85 million as he has not met all the requirements for certain add-ons to be due.

Manchester City had been keen on Wirtz but pulled out, reportedly due to the spiralling costs of the whole package.

Wirtz has been hailed as one of the “best in the world” by former Bayer Leverkusen coach and ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who is the new boss of Real Madrid.

After largely keeping their powder dry in the transfer market during Arne Slot’s first season in charge, the Reds are splashing out to strengthen a side that romped to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.