Liverpool has completed the 'largest transfer in history.' The protagonist is Florian Wirtz (22, Bayer Leverkusen), the future of the German national team.

The Athletic reported on the 16th (Korea time) that 'Liverpool is set to sign midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer 04 Leverkusen and has scheduled a medical test for the 20th (local time).' Once the transfer is finalized, Wirtz is expected to sign a five-year contract while wearing the Liverpool jersey.

The scale of the contract is beyond imagination. According to reports, Liverpool will pay Bayer Leverkusen a total of 136.3 million euros (approximately 214.5 billion won). Of this, the upfront payment is 117.5 million euros (approximately 185 billion won), with options worth 18.8 million euros (approximately 29.6 billion won) included. This represents the highest transfer fee in Liverpool's history and the most expensive sale in Bayer Leverkusen's history, which could become the highest transfer fee in British football history if all options are met.

Bayer Leverkusen had demanded 150 million euros (approximately 236 billion won) to terminate Wirtz's contract, but Liverpool succeeded in negotiations on terms lower than that. Wirtz had a contract with Leverkusen until 2027, but it is reported that he identified a move to Liverpool as his top priority and expressed hope for the transfer as early as last month. Bayern Munich also attempted to sign him but was quickly outpaced by the player's own decision.

During the 2024-2025 season, Wirtz played a total of 45 matches for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring 16 goals and providing 15 assists. Bayer Leverkusen achieved a runner-up finish in the Bundesliga and reached the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League. In the previous 2023-2024 season, he led the team to an unbeaten victory in the Bundesliga and reached the final of the UEFA Europa League, earning the title of German Player of the Year. His stats for that season amounted to 49 matches, 18 goals, and 20 assists.

There has been ongoing contact between Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen regarding the transfer. Liverpool already activated a 35 million euro buy-out clause to sign Jeremie Frimpong last May, and negotiations between the two clubs continued, leading to Wirtz's acquisition.

The signing of Frimpong was a reinforcement following Trent Alexander-Arnold's transfer to Real Madrid ahead of the Club World Cup, and it is reported that a core recruitment project for Liverpool involving Florian Wirtz was subsequently activated.

Bayer Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso has left for Real Madrid this summer, and Eric Ten Hag, the former Manchester United manager, has been appointed as his successor. While Madrid prepares for a new era under Alonso, Liverpool has signaled another generational change by securing 'prepared future resources' in Wirtz and Frimpong.

Wirtz's move to Liverpool goes beyond a simple transfer; it is a 'declaration.' The Athletic noted that 'Liverpool's most thrilling signing since Fernando Torres' is 'a bold investment in a prepared superstar.'

Liverpool's acquisition of Wirtz, a departure from their long-standing strategy centered on promising players, marks a significant investment in immediate impact players capable of delivering tangible results. This is also interpreted as an expression of intent to aim for more than 'Champions League victory.'

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