Florian Wirtz to Liverpool transfer: Bayern Munich release statement on move

Liverpool have WON the battle to sign Florian Wirtz, with Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer admitting defeat. The Germany international, 22, has decided to leave the Bundesliga and is set for a club-record move to Anfield.

Wirtz has shone for Leverkusen in recent seasons, scoring 16 goals and registering 15 assists this season, having become a key player for his country, shining at Euro 2024. But after five years with Leverkusen - playing a part in their Bundesliga success in 2023-24 - he has grown keen on a new challenge.

Bayern have been pursuing a move for almost two years and had believed until recently that Wirtz preferred a move to Munich. But the player’s father, Hans-Joachim, who also acts as his agent, informed the club’s hierarchy this week that the young star is heading elsewhere.

On Saturday, Bayern president Hainer declared: “Max Eberl [sporting director] informed me that Florian Wirtz is probably leaning towards Liverpool.”

In Germany, it’s claimed that the 29-cap German star - who has been arguably the Bundesliga’s best player over the last two seasons - wants a new challenge. But it’s understood that Bayern have made a mess of their pursuit, allowing Liverpool to swoop.

Die Roten have been high on signing Wirtz for some time but it’s believed the player’s camp have grown frustrated by their pursuit in recent months, feeling it has been disrespectful to Leverkusen - where the Wirtz family, unsurprisingly, have a great relationship. Recent suggestions dropped into the German media that if Leverkusen stuck to their £120million asking price, Bayern would just wait and sign Wirtz for cheaper in 2026, subsequently did not sit well.

Hoeness, speaking last weekend after Bayern's Bundesliga title triumph, was asked about a deal for Wirtz and responded confidently: "We'll provide you with facts at some point. And not with further speculation. You are responsible for that."

That confidence was misplaced.

When the player and his camp met most recently with Bayern chiefs, including Eberl, club supremo Uli Hoeness and head coach Vincent Kompany, they were left feeling a little underwhelmed, questions over his role in the Bayern side going largely unanswered.

The complete opposite is believed to have been true of the Wirtz family’s recent meetings with Liverpool chiefs, who outlined exactly how they see the player fitting in on Merseyside, with Arne Slot's pitch and the tactical detail he went into understood to have been both impressive and crucial.

All told, that has seen Wirtz decide to move to Liverpool, with Bayern now looking to save face as they try to explain how their No.1 target was allowed to get away.

A mega-money deal to join the Premier League winners will make Wirtz the second Bayer Leverkusen player to swap the BayArena for Anfield, with Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong also joining, replacing Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold.