Florian Wirtz’s £116m move to Liverpool in June 2025 reshapes the club’s midfield and invites direct comparison with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. The German attacking midfielder arrived from Bayer Leverkusen with a Bundesliga winner’s medal and a reputation as one of Europe’s most creative playmakers.
Age: 23 (born 3 May 2003) | Position: Attacking midfielder | Height: 1.77 m | Current club: Liverpool (joined June 2025) | Reported transfer fee: £116 million | Jersey number at Liverpool: 7
Transfer details
- Fee: £116m (Sky Sports)
- Club: Liverpool (BBC Sport)
- Date: June 2025 (BBC Sport)
Player profile
- Age: 23 (born 3 May 2003)
- Position: Attacking midfielder (Bundesliga)
- Height: 1.77 m (Bundesliga)
Career highlights
- Bundesliga winner 2023-24 (Bundesliga)
- German international (Bundesliga)
- Bayer Leverkusen star (Bundesliga)
Comparison edge
- Wirtz leads in assists per 90 (RisingTransfers)
- Palmer leads in goals per 90 (RisingTransfers)
- Overall tendency: Wirtz 57–43 (RisingTransfers)
Key facts: Florian Wirtz
| Full name | Florian Richard Wirtz |
| Date of birth | 3 May 2003 |
| Height | 1.77 m |
| Position | Attacking midfielder |
| Current club | Liverpool |
| Jersey number | 7 |
| Transfer fee | £116 million |
Sources: Bundesliga, BBC Sport, Sky Sports
How much will Liverpool pay for Wirtz?
British reporting describes the move as a club-record or record-breaking transfer. The fee places Wirtz among the most expensive signings in Liverpool’s history, reflecting the club’s investment in a creative midfielder still years from his peak.
Details of the £116m deal
Sky Sports reported the £116 million figure as the headline fee for the Germany international. BBC Sport confirmed the transfer was agreed in June 2025, with Wirtz leaving Bayer Leverkusen after four senior seasons. The deal surpasses Liverpool’s previous record outlay and signals a midfield rebuild under the club’s management.
The implication: Liverpool committed elite-level money for a player whose best output came in the Bundesliga, betting on his ability to translate that form to the Premier League.
Contract length and structure
Exact contract length and weekly wages remain unclear at this stage. What is known is that Wirtz signed with Liverpool in June 2025 and was assigned the number 7 jersey. Further details on performance bonuses and release clauses have not been publicly confirmed by the club.
The pattern: Liverpool structured the deal around a known fee while leaving ancillary terms private, a common approach for high-value signings.
“Liverpool agreed a deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in June 2025, with British reporting describing the move as a club-record or record-breaking transfer.”
— BBC Sport
Is Florian Wirtz good?
Wirtz established himself as one of Germany’s finest attacking midfielders during his time at Bayer Leverkusen. His 2023-24 Bundesliga title-winning campaign, combined with international recognition for Germany, underpins his reputation.
Career statistics at Leverkusen
At Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz developed into a creator who operates between the lines. Bundesliga official data tracks his pre-transfer performance benchmarks, showing consistent output in goals and assists across multiple seasons. His return from a serious knee injury in 2022 to win the Bundesliga in 2023-24 marked a significant career milestone.
Playing style and strengths
Sky Sports profiled Wirtz as a creator who operates between the lines, comparing him with Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer and James Maddison in the context of Liverpool’s signing. His left-footed distribution, close control in tight spaces, and vision for through balls are his standout traits. RisingTransfers data indicates he leads Cole Palmer in assists per 90 and key passes, reinforcing his profile as a primary playmaker.
Comparison to Cole Palmer
StatMuse’s comparison page shows Wirtz appearing for Liverpool in the 2025-26 Champions League dataset, indicating post-transfer appearance data is being tracked in competition-specific splits. OneVersusOne states that Wirtz has more defensive touches than Palmer, while Palmer averages higher expected goals per game. The comparison is not purely like-for-like — Palmer is generally deployed as a Chelsea attacking midfielder or inside forward, while Wirtz is commonly profiled as a creator operating between the lines, per Sky Sports.
The catch: Wirtz and Palmer share the same birth year and similar positional labels, but their statistical profiles diverge — Wirtz creates more, Palmer scores more.
“Cole Palmer leads Florian Wirtz in goals per 90 and shots per 90.”
— RisingTransfers
What number will Wirtz wear for Liverpool?
Florian Wirtz has taken the number 7 jersey at Liverpool, continuing a tradition associated with iconic Anfield players.
Wirtz wears number 7 at Liverpool
The German playmaker was assigned the number 7 shirt upon joining, a number he also wore during his time at Bayer Leverkusen. The jersey number carries historical weight at Liverpool, having been worn by club legends including Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan, and Luis Suárez.
History of number 7 at Liverpool
The number 7 at Liverpool has been associated with attacking flair and creative responsibility. Wirtz’s selection of the shirt signals his intended role as a central creative figure in the squad.
The implication: Taking the number 7 at Anfield places Wirtz in a lineage of attacking playmakers, carrying both prestige and performance expectations.
Why is Florian Wirtz struggling?
Any perceived struggles in Wirtz’s early Liverpool career must be weighed against his injury history and the standard adaptation period for Bundesliga-to-Premier League transitions.
Injury history
Wirtz suffered a serious knee injury in 2022 that sidelined him for an extended period. He returned to form in the 2023-24 season, playing a key role in Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title win. The injury is a known risk factor that clubs monitor closely.
Adaptation to Premier League
Moving from the Bundesliga to the Premier League involves a step up in physical intensity and tactical complexity. Wirtz’s transition to Liverpool may involve an adjustment period as he adapts to a new league, teammates, and system.
Recent form analysis
StatMuse tracks Wirtz’s Champions League appearances for Liverpool in the 2025-26 season, providing competition-specific data. OneVersusOne’s comparison model shows Wirtz averaging lower expected goals per game than Palmer, which may reflect his deeper creative role rather than a decline in performance.
The pattern: Wirtz’s statistical profile has not dropped — his role at Liverpool differs from his Leverkusen role, and early-season metrics should be read in that context.
Who is better, Wirtz or Palmer?
The direct comparison between Florian Wirtz and Cole Palmer has become a talking point because of the £116m Liverpool transfer. Both are attacking midfielders born in 2003, but their statistical profiles and playing styles differ meaningfully.
The table below presents the head-to-head data from multiple sources.
| Metric | Florian Wirtz | Cole Palmer |
|---|---|---|
| Goals per 90 | Lower | Higher |
| Assists per 90 | Higher | Lower |
| Key passes | Higher | Lower |
| Market value | €110.0m | €110.0m |
| 1vs1 Score | Lower | Higher |
| Expected goals per game | Lower | Higher |
| Defensive touches | Higher | Lower |
| Overall tendency | 57% | 43% |
Sources: RisingTransfers, OneVersusOne, Premier League, Bundesliga
The pattern: Wirtz edges the composite comparison 57–43 on RisingTransfers, but that site explicitly frames this as a tendency rather than a definitive verdict. Palmer leads in goal-scoring metrics; Wirtz leads in creation and defensive work.
Statistical comparison (goals, assists, key passes)
RisingTransfers data shows Wirtz ahead in assists per 90 and key passes, while Palmer leads in goals per 90 and shots per 90. OneVersusOne lists Palmer’s 1vs1 Score above Wirtz’s and indicates Palmer averages more expected goals per game.
Playing style differences
Sky Sports profiled the comparison within a video segment that also included Bruno Fernandes and James Maddison. The analysis noted that Palmer and Wirtz occupy similar zones but achieve output differently — Palmer through direct goal threat, Wirtz through sustained creation.
Market value and age
Both players share a €110.0m market value according to RisingTransfers, and both were born in 2003. Their age-parity makes the comparison particularly relevant for long-term squad building. Premier League official data identifies Palmer as a Chelsea player, while Bundesliga data tracks Wirtz’s Leverkusen career before his Liverpool move.
The implication: The comparison will evolve over the next 2-3 seasons as both players develop, but the current data suggests complementary rather than identical skill sets.
“Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott chose Cole Palmer over Florian Wirtz when asked to pick the better player in a pre-transfer discussion.”
— Goal
Timeline: Florian Wirtz career milestones
- May 2003 — Born in Germany
- 2020 — Debut for Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- 2022 — Suffered serious knee injury
- 2023-24 — Returned to form, won Bundesliga (Bundesliga)
- June 2025 — Joined Liverpool for £116m (BBC Sport)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florian Wirtz’s religion?
Florian Wirtz has not publicly discussed his religious beliefs. No official or reliable source has confirmed his religious affiliation.
How many goals has Florian Wirtz scored for Leverkusen?
Wirtz scored 27 goals across all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen during his senior career at the club, as tracked by Bundesliga official data.
What is Florian Wirtz’s height?
Florian Wirtz is 1.77 m tall, per his official Bundesliga profile.
Is Florian Wirtz left-footed?
Yes, Florian Wirtz is predominantly left-footed, which is consistent with his playing style as a creative attacking midfielder who cuts inside from the left half-space.
How many assists does Florian Wirtz have in the Bundesliga?
Wirtz recorded 36 assists in the Bundesliga during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, according to league statistics.
What is Florian Wirtz’s market value?
RisingTransfers lists Florian Wirtz’s market value at €110.0 million, the same valuation given to Cole Palmer.
Has Florian Wirtz won any trophies?
Yes, Wirtz won the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023-24 season, ending the club’s long wait for a league championship.
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Helen Carter covers the economy, business and consumer affairs for Insight Britain.