From one Red team to another: Florian flies Wirtz class to Anfield

An hour before the clock struck 12, social media was abuzz with anticipation. Liverpool FC had released a post across all their social media pages: a red background, a red bench, a bucket hat, and a pair of shades. The rumours were beginning to materialise, and the comment sections were on fire. Within the hour, the team put up a new post, confirming the rumours and making it official. They have signed arguably the world’s best midfielder at present, bringing him in under a record-breaking deal of £116 million (around €136 million)!

 

The costliest transfer in club history and one of the costliest in the history of the Premier League. Yet 22-year-old Florian Wirtz does not let that distract him from what he came to do. “I’m not coming to have fun here,” he told the club. “I also want to achieve something and give the fans what they deserve.”

 

Who is Florian Wirtz?

 

Hailing from Pulheim, Germany, Wirtz received immense support for football from his parents (who are also his agents), and he had been playing at a professional level since his childhood. 

 

He was signed to 1. FC Köln’s youth team at the age of 7 and stood with them for almost an entire decade. In 2020, Wirtz would go on to sign with Bayer Leverkusen at the age of 16. He broke multiple records at the club, becoming the youngest player, youngest goalscorer, youngest Bundesliga player to reach 10 goals, and the youngest German player to make 50 appearances in the Bundesliga. He also played a crucial role in Bayer’s domestic treble, and his fierce competitive spirit helped him progress at the club level, all leading up to this historic signing with the Premier League giants.

 

 

Speaking to the club media, Florian Wirtz seems to have already found his place in Liverpool. “I was waiting for a long time. Finally, it is done, and I am very happy,” he stated, referring to his signing. He said that his conversation with the club’s manager and head coach, Arne Slot, as well as the club’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, helped him realise that Liverpool was the perfect place for him to grow. He has witnessed the club’s performance firsthand, although it was from the opposing side, and it had left his old team losing 4-0 to the Premier League giants last November. 

 

“We (Bayer Leverkusen) had to run so much, and we lost almost every duel. I just wanted to be part of this team (Liverpool),” he reminisced. That game had left an impact on him, leaving him in awe of the quality of the club and its size.

 

Leverkusen duo to script history at Anfield?

 

The icing on the cake for Wirtz was playing with his old teammate from Leverkusen, Jeremie Frimpong. The duo was seen vacationing together a few days ago, with the new signee donning the bucket hat and shades, which would later be used to announce his entry into the club. “He's a really good player, a really good person, a really funny guy,” he said about his teammate. “I didn't speak really good English, but he was teaching me a lot and making me speak in better English.” 

 

 

All set for his debut match as a Liverpool FC player, Florian Wirtz has displayed gratitude for the club’s supporters who have welcomed him with open arms on social media. He also remains optimistic about the club and his performance. “Last season they won the Premier League, so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League,” he stated. “I'm looking forward to playing in front of them (the fans) and achieving great things together.”

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