Liverpool signs Wirtz: Why did the German star choose Anfield?

Florian Wirtz: Liverpool’s New Star

The signing of Florian Wirtz by Liverpool has caused a great stir in the world of football. The young attacking midfielder, coming from Bayer Leverkusen, arrives at Anfield as one of the most exciting signings of the summer. His arrival promises to revolutionize the attack of the English team and consolidate it as one of the favorites in the Premier League. Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso was amazed by Wirtz’s talent. His ability to overcome defenders and his vision of the game have made him a unique player. Freiburg coach Christian Streich summed up the situation perfectly: “You can’t defend Florian Wirtz.” The transfer of Wirtz to Liverpool, for a figure close to 100 million euros, plus bonuses, makes him the second most expensive signing of the summer for the team, after the arrival of Jeremie Frimpong, also from Leverkusen. The arrival of Wirtz at Liverpool has surprised many, as it was expected that his future would be at clubs like Bayern Munich or Real Madrid. However, the vision of Arne Slot, Liverpool’s coach, was key to convincing the player to join the “Reds”.

A Rising Talent

Wirtz, considered one of the most promising talents in Europe, has had a meteoric rise in football. Raised in a large family, the player has always been linked to the sport. His father, also his agent, is the president of the club where Wirtz began his career.

“He and the ball were always one. It was seen from the beginning when I played against him or when we did things together with football,” commented his sister Juliane, also a professional footballer.

Juliane Wirtz

After excelling in the lower categories of FC Cologne, Wirtz arrived at Leverkusen in 2020. There, he became one of the stars of the Bundesliga, accumulating 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 matches. After overcoming a cruciate ligament injury in 2022, Wirtz became the creative leader of Leverkusen, who managed to win their first league title in the 2023-24 season, as well as the German Cup and reach the final of the Europa League.

Wirtz has proven to be a key player in Julian Nagelsmann’s scheme in the German national team, where he has played 29 matches and has left his mark in important moments, such as the goal he scored against Spain in last summer’s European Championship.

“Florian is a great asset with his carefree nature. He is simply an exceptional technician, he loves to play, he is very creative, he has a good shot, he runs a lot and he is fast. He is the complete package”, stated Hansi Flick, former coach of the German national team.

Hansi Flick

A Key Reinforcement for Liverpool

Liverpool, which already has a solid team, is looking at Wirtz for a player who brings creativity and imbalance to the attack. The player is expected to become the team’s main creative force, and his statistics suggest that he has everything he needs to achieve this. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, only Mohamed Salah has provided more assists in Europe’s top five leagues than Wirtz. Furthermore, Wirtz excels in progressive passes and creating goal-scoring opportunities. Wirtz is expected to replace the creativity of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left the team to join Real Madrid. Wirtz’s ability to generate goal opportunities and his high intensity on the field are qualities that make him a valuable player.

Expert Analysis

According to analyst Tor-Kristian Karlsen, Wirtz possesses an incredible ability to detect the movements of his teammates and make the right pass. His ability to create goal opportunities and his success in dribbling make him a unique player. Wirtz averages almost 70 passes per game and always looks for favorable positions to receive the ball. In addition, he is an exceptional finisher, capable of scoring goals from inside the area with great precision. The signing of Wirtz by Liverpool is an important step in his career, and his adaptation to the team will be facilitated by the presence of his friend and former teammate, Frimpong. The support of his family and the freedom he will have at Liverpool could be key for Wirtz to reach his full potential. The player is expected to have an immediate impact on the team and could aspire to the Ballon d’Or in the future.