Florian Wirtz understands what it means to be a highly sought-after player. While many young footballers might be overwhelmed by major European clubs vying for their services, it seems unlikely to faze Wirtz.
Born in Pulheim, Wirtz grew up in a region renowned for its footballing talent, surrounded by clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach, Fortuna Dusseldorf, and Bayer Leverkusen. The burgeoning talent in the Cologne suburbs didn`t go unnoticed, but these clubs would have to patiently wait.
Wirtz was raised in a family dedicated to fostering his development, as well as that of his sister Juliane, who plays for Werder Bremen. Their father, Hans, remains the chairman of Grun-Weiss Brauweiler, Wirtz`s childhood club, where he grew up with a ball constantly at his feet.
It`s little wonder his coaches found him so easy to work with. Benedikt Hammans, his youth coach in Cologne, noted, `Florian knew better than me early on which decisions he should make in the game.` Breaking into the Under-17 side at 15, Wirtz was a key player in Cologne`s 2019 National Championship-winning team.
In that tournament, playing against older and physically stronger opponents, Wirtz registered four goals and eight assists in 14 games. His exceptional form culminated in a dominant performance against Bayern Munich`s U17s in the semi-final. Even at a young age, signs of the player Liverpool might potentially break the transfer record for were visible. He could brilliantly control a long pass, find space, and instantly deliver a precise 50-yard pass behind the defense, setting up a simple tap-in.
His abilities were already attracting the attention of European giants, including Juventus and Arsenal. Liverpool was also closely monitoring his progress. Closer to home, Bayer Leverkusen`s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, was determined to gain an edge. Having returned to Leverkusen in 2018, Rolfes questioned his academy staff: Given Wirtz`s technique and tenacity, why wasn`t he already part of Leverkusen?
There was a straightforward reason: Cologne, Leverkusen, and Borussia Monchengladbach had an agreement not to poach academy prospects from each other, aiming to provide stability for both the region and the players. Leverkusen`s solution in early 2020 was clever but controversial. Just months after leading Cologne to the youth title, Wirtz signed for Leverkusen as a first-team player.
The European giants vying for him didn`t stand much of a chance. Joining Leverkusen meant he could play for the same club as his sister and, crucially, finish his school studies, a priority for his parents (though Wirtz later stated he had the final say). Five years on, Wirtz has the casting vote, but his parents, particularly his father Hans and mother Karin (who was involved in talks with Manchester City), remain vital voices in his career decisions.
`The sporting perspective is much more important than money,` Wirtz told Sports Illustrated, reflecting his parents` teachings. `My parents would be angry if I ever gave money priority.`
In the early stages of his career, education arguably even trumped sporting opportunities. Shortly after moving, Wirtz was left out of the squad for a Europa League game against Slavia Prague because he had an exam the next morning. While more passionate about football, he never neglected school, even bringing a teacher with him for his first call-up to the German national team in March 2021.
Wirtz`s Rise to Stardom at Leverkusen
A clear pathway to the first team, just 11 miles away, was a welcome bonus. It quickly materialized when Kai Havertz`s $96 million move to Chelsea in the summer of 2020 opened up the number 10 position. Leverkusen needed a successor but intended to promote from within. Rolfes believed buying a replacement would be a `waste of money` because the young player was already better, making any other course of action `senseless.`
With near-unanimous club support, Leverkusen entrusted a teenager with a key role. Wirtz, however, downplayed the idea of being the sole difference-maker. He focused on creating scoring opportunities for the team, stating, `I just want to create opportunities to score, make goals happen. I don’t really care who gets the goals, it’s really about winning the games and I just want to create dangerous chances for us.`
Those chances came with remarkable frequency. Over the last four seasons in Europe`s top five leagues, Wirtz averaged 0.46 assists per 90 minutes, a rate surpassed only by Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Muller, Ousmane Dembele, and Lionel Messi. By virtually any creative metric, Wirtz was among the world`s elite before turning 22.
This period wasn`t without challenges. For 10 months, he was sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, missing the 2022 World Cup. Such a traumatic injury could slow any player`s development, especially an 18-year-old still growing. Not only did he face the emotional blow of missing his first major tournament, but he also watched Leverkusen struggle without him, though Gerardo Seoane`s replacement by Xabi Alonso offered future promise.
Those close to Wirtz say he detests being injured more than most. He used the time productively, determined to improve aspects of his game. Just four months after returning, he claimed to be a better player. In his first full season back, the unforgettable 2023-24 campaign for Bayer Leverkusen, his shot and goal output saw a dramatic increase.
With Wirtz in stellar form, Neverkusen became one of sports` most remarkable stories. Their stunning unbeaten domestic season wrested the Bundesliga title from Bayern Munich, a feat that seemed impossible even after Bayern signed Harry Kane. Wirtz`s penchant for crucial goals, combined with his elegant technique and relentless work rate, made him undeniably the best player in Germany.
Fitting Wirtz into Liverpool`s System
He likely would have maintained that status in 2024-25, but Leverkusen`s dramatic late winners became less frequent, and injuries, which they avoided the previous season, took their toll. Wirtz himself suffered an ankle injury that ended his domestic and European campaigns, which already looked challenging. Even with increased demands and Alonso`s system becoming more cautious, Wirtz matched his previous season`s 20 league goal contributions, taking more shots and providing more assists.
It`s no surprise the best clubs wanted him. The only surprise might be that only Bayern Munich and Manchester City joined Liverpool in the race. Joachim Low expressed a common sentiment, telling Bild he expected Wirtz to follow Alonso to Real Madrid, but Liverpool seemingly finds itself in pole position. This might allow them to negotiate down Leverkusen`s reported $170 million valuation, though any deal is likely to break the British transfer record set by Chelsea`s acquisition of Enzo Fernandez in January 2023.
For that price, Liverpool appears to be acquiring arguably the most talented player on the market, whose arrival opens up enormous tactical possibilities for Arne Slot. The simplest approach would be to deploy Wirtz directly in the number 10 role, replacing Dominik Szoboszlai. The new signing offers significantly more goal threat; Liverpool would effectively upgrade from a player with six league goals/assists to one capable of double figures in both. While perhaps lighter and shorter, Wirtz is a dynamo in the press. In their title-winning season, no Bundesliga player won possession in the attacking third more often than Leverkusen`s number 10.
While a direct replacement works, other potential signings, such as Jeremie Frimpong and possibly Milos Kerkez, suggest alternative options by providing Slot with new wing-back dynamics. Last season, Liverpool`s fullbacks played in more conservative positions under Jurgen Klopp, which would likely change with attack-minded players like Frimpong, who often operated almost as a second striker under Alonso, and Kerkez, who is also well-suited to pushing forward.
Does this necessitate a more cautious midfield behind Wirtz, perhaps even an anchor and a shift to a 4-3-3? Wirtz`s ability to drift into wide areas over recent seasons suggests he could adapt. Leverkusen`s effective interplay between Alejandro Grimaldo and Wirtz, allowing the left wing-back to move inside or out, attacking the box or combining short, offers a template. Kerkez, while profiling more like a younger Andrew Robertson (a high-intensity runner to the byline) than a technical midfielder, could also potentially replicate this dynamic.
Even if Liverpool utilizes their left back more conventionally, it shouldn`t hinder Wirtz. Their recruitment strategy seems designed to enable wide attackers to move into central spaces. Mohamed Salah, who has played wider right to accommodate Trent Alexander-Arnold, could shift infield with Frimpong providing width. Slot could ask Wirtz to perform a similar role from the left.
For a significant investment, Liverpool gains tactical options but, more importantly, secures a future focal point for their attack. Since Salah signed his previous contract in 2022, the question of his succession has loomed large. Wirtz provides an answer. The crown potentially passes to a player who, in his early twenties, appears ready to wear it.
Given his career trajectory, a high-profile move and the task of succeeding a club legend should only bring out the best in Florian Wirtz.
