Even Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso could not imagine it. After watching Florian Wirtz dance by a crowd of SC Freiburg defenders in October 2023 to provide his aspect a treasured lead on their approach to the Bundesliga title, the previous Spain worldwide merely raised his eyebrows on the touchline.
It was a quiet acknowledgment of Wirtz’s brilliance, and Alonso’s sentiments have been echoed after the match by Freiburg coach Christian Streich, who merely claimed: “You may’t defend in opposition to Florian Wirtz.”
That speculation will likely be examined extra rigorously than ever earlier than subsequent season following Wirtz’s £100 million transfer (plus £16m in add-ons) from Leverkusen to Liverpool. The 22-year-old playmaker has turn into Arne Slot’s second arrival of the summer time, after the £30m signing of his teammate Jeremie Frimpong, with Liverpool obliterating their very own switch file (the £75m paid to signal defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January 2018), however not fairly breaking the British switch file (Chelsea’s £106.8m signing of Enzo Fernández).
On paper, Wirtz is arguably essentially the most thrilling signing in world soccer this summer time. Having loved a meteoric rise at Leverkusen, the Germany worldwide is already thought to be considered one of Europe’s most prodigious abilities and, in becoming a member of the Premier League champions, he has secured an enormous platform on which to showcase his skills.
Additionally it is a transfer that has caught many without warning, with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich or LaLiga giants Actual Madrid (after they employed Alonso) considered as Wirtz’s more than likely vacation spot. Nonetheless, a supply advised ESPN that Slot’s imaginative and prescient proved the compelling issue within the participant’s determination to maneuver to Merseyside.
Wirtz was recognized as the person to take the Dutchman’s Liverpool undertaking to the following stage. So right here is every little thing it’s worthwhile to know.
‘An actual spark and pleasure about him’
The youngest of 10 siblings, it’s maybe little surprise that household is on the middle of Wirtz’s world. The midfielder was raised within the rural city of Pulheim, simply outdoors of Cologne, and commenced his youth profession with native crew SV Grün-Weiß Brauweiler, the place his father Hans-Joachim — additionally his agent — remains to be the chairman.
“He and the ball have been at all times only one; you might see that early on once I performed in opposition to him or once we did issues along with the soccer,” Wirtz’s sister Juliane, additionally knowledgeable footballer for Werder Bremen, advised the official Bundesliga web site in 2023.
“Even simply the way in which he appeared on the ball. The actual fact is that he has a whole lot of expertise, however he is additionally executed so much [in terms of working] on it. Early on, from when he was actually younger, you might inform that boy would have one thing to do with soccer.”
Certainly, Wirtz’s expertise and utility quickly earned him a transfer to FC Cologne, the place he spent greater than a decade within the membership’s academy earlier than becoming a member of Leverkusen in 2020. It was throughout his time on the BayArena that the midfielder established himself as one of many Bundesliga’s brightest stars, registering 57 objectives and 65 assists in 197 membership appearances.
After recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage sustained in 2022, Wirtz developed into Leverkusen’s inventive fulcrum underneath Alonso, starring because the membership defied the chances to clinch its first-ever league title, even going unbeaten, in 2023-24, in addition to profitable the DFB-Pokal and reaching the UEFA Europa League last, the place the crew finally misplaced out to Atalanta.
“If you play with Wirtz, you discover the distinction,” Leverkusen fan Gareth Houston tells ESPN. “There’s simply that little little bit of spark lacking when he is not there. We have now different very gifted gamers within the attacking positions, however there is not any one who can exchange his high quality. There have been so many instances when he’d simply choose up the ball and do one thing extremely particular and also you thought ‘you’ll be able to’t exchange that.’ For me, he is been the standout participant.
“He is received a popularity in Germany as being a little bit bit just like somebody like [Chelsea forward] Cole Palmer within the sense that he is very carefree; he is very chill, he is very joyful. He simply loves taking part in soccer: there’s an actual spark and pleasure about him that you do not see with many gamers, and he expresses that on the pitch.”
Wirtz has additionally developed right into a key fixture in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany aspect, having made his debut for the nationwide crew underneath Joachin Low in September 2021. He has already gained 29 senior caps and has proven he has a watch for the massive event, scoring an equalizer in opposition to Spain within the quarterfinals of final summer time’s European Championship.
“Florian is simply an enormous asset along with his carefree nature,” Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, who managed Germany from 2021-22, mentioned of his former participant. “He is merely an impressive technician, likes to play, may be very inventive, has a very good shot, runs onerous and is fast. He is the complete package deal.”
The defining attacking footballer for the following decade?
Contemplating Liverpool gained the Premier League title at a canter — finally ending 10 factors away from second-placed Arsenal, clinching in late-April — Slot’s squad will not be in want of main surgical procedure this summer time. Nonetheless, regardless of dominating domestically, the Reds’ Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain within the spherical of 16 laid naked among the crew’s deficiencies, hinting at a necessity for extra tempo, guile and firepower.
“I feel we are able to discover one or two additional weapons this crew does not have,” Slot mentioned in Might. “Perhaps, possibly, through the use of the switch market. That’s what we try to attain. That can make us solely stronger.”
Definitely, Wirtz could be a potent attacking weapon for any crew in world soccer, and his distinctive talent set ought to present Slot with the additional aptitude he has been craving.
“Wirtz is arguably the most effective out-and-out attacking playmakers on the earth proper now,” former scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen tells ESPN. “It is no shock he is been courted by the most important golf equipment in world soccer. He is more likely to be the defining attacking footballer for the following decade.”
At Leverkusen, Wirtz typically lined up as a central attacking midfielder, or a No.10, working behind a middle ahead. It stays to be seen whether or not he will likely be used similarly by Slot, or whether or not he will likely be deployed in a extra superior place, both on the left wing or as a false No. 9. Wherever he performs, he’ll probably be tasked with changing into Liverpool’s most inventive drive, and his numbers definitely recommend he has all of the substances to fulfil that demand.
Because the begin of the 2023-24 season, solely Mohamed Salah (28) has extra assists in Europe’s Large 5 leagues than Wirtz (23). In line with Opta, Wirtz ranked eighth for progressive passes within the Bundesliga final season (155) and usual 2.1 probabilities from open play per 90 minutes within the Bundesliga (minimal of 1,000 minutes) — greater than any of his Leverkusen teammates and solely barely lower than Salah for Liverpool (2.3).
Additionally it is hoped that Wirtz can assist Slot’s aspect exchange the ingenuity of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who frequently helped the Reds to unlock cussed defenses earlier than he joined Actual Madrid in June. Final season, Wirtz created 2.1 probabilities from open play per 90 minutes in comparison with Alexander-Arnold’s 1.6, whereas Liverpool’s new signing additionally surpassed the England worldwide when it comes to anticipated assists per 90 (0.36 to 0.28).
Maybe most crucially of all, although, Wirtz confirmed a willingness to place within the onerous yards for his crew throughout his time at Leverkusen. He averaged 1.25 excessive turnovers per 90 minutes in all competitions in 2024-25; essentially the most amongst all Bundesliga gamers (minimal 1,500 minutes performed). His spectacular work fee will stand him in good stead at Anfield.
Knowledgeable view
Karlsen examines what makes Wirtz so particular.
Geared up with good technical expertise, Wirtz possesses an unbelievable capability to identify a run from a teammate and choose the appropriate cross. Working within the attacking pockets of house masterfully, he is in a position to create probabilities single-handedly and infrequently takes on defenders efficiently.
That is particularly evident when he is in a position to flip shortly with the ball and out of the blue up the tempo of a transfer. Certainly, solely Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard (or a peak Kevin De Bruyne) can rival Wirtz for spontaneous, game-changing actions from central attacking areas.
Averaging simply in need of 70 passes per 90 minutes, the teen is very energetic within the build-up and is at all times on the lookout for favorable positions to obtain the ball. He’s additionally a outstanding finisher. The vast majority of his objectives have a tendency to come back from simply contained in the field (centrally), typically executed after fastidiously choosing his spot and making use of the appropriate tempo on the ball along with his capturing approach.
A world-class participant with Ballon d’Or potential
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Why Florian Wirtz is a future Ballon d’or contender
Jan Aage Fjørtoft particulars the strengths of Florian Wirtz as he’s named at No. 2 on ESPN’s 39 greatest U21 gamers.
With such a powerful physique of labor already behind him, it’s no shock that Wirtz was linked with a lot of Europe’s prime golf equipment earlier than finally selecting a transfer to Anfield.
“Flo is likely one of the prime gamers on the earth,” Alonso mentioned in a Leverkusen information convention final month. “He’s world class. Flo has a really mature thoughts. The folks round him, his dad and mom, they need the very best for him. They’re in an important second of his profession.”
That Wirtz has chosen to make the leap to the Premier League quite than remaining in his homeland is reflective of his eagerness to increase his horizons. His household, as has turn into customized, have helped to information his determination and their help will likely be wanted to make sure a seamless transition to English soccer.
“[The transfer fee] is an additional stress that the participant has arriving to Liverpool, a crew who already gained the Premier League final season,” former Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia advised the ESPN FC present.
“Individuals will likely be anticipating him to place his expertise on the desk right away, however whenever you see him play, my feeling is that he does not really feel that stress. When he is on the ball, he is received the flexibility to cease time, to cease the second and have the composure to determine nicely … to make the cross, to take the shot. He is received that capability as a result of he is particular. He is so calm, he is so chilly within the moments that he must be.”
Wirtz’s adaptation to life on Merseyside may even be made simpler by the presence of excellent good friend and former Leverkusen teammate Frimpong. With Frimpong charging ahead from proper again, the pair have delivered a mixed 111 aim contributions for Leverkusen over the previous two seasons, and that sense of familiarity may very well be key to serving to each gamers really feel at residence each on and off the pitch.
“Florian and Jerry are each jokers,” Houston says. “They’re good mates so I feel that’ll assist him vastly when it comes to settling in. I would say that most likely influenced his determination fairly closely.
“Florian will get free reign at Leverkusen and I have been advised that one of many issues that tempted him to Liverpool is that they will construct the crew round him. He isn’t a No. 10, he is not a winger, he is simply Florian Wirtz. There’s nothing he cannot do and for those who give him that freedom, he simply expresses himself.
“If he can keep injury-free and preserve grounded then the sky is the restrict. At a crew like Liverpool, he may do very nicely. I feel he is received Ballon d’Or potential.”
