Liverpool are on the verge of signing one of the biggest prospects in the world in Florian Wirtz, who has already shown his maturity in a bid to be the best
Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks dejected at full-time following the team's draw in the Bundesliga match between FC St. Pauli 1910 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Millerntor Stadium on April 20, 2025
Florian Wirtz has been praised by scouts and former opponents ahead of his move to Liverpool
(Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Germany gem Florian Wirtz stands on the cusp of a record-breaking transfer to Liverpool, boasting one of the highest ceilings in world football right now. And it's evident from those who have encountered the talent that he's constantly searching within himself for improvement.
The 22-year-old is already one of the best players in Europe, having just wrapped up a second straight Bundesliga campaign with double-digit goals and assists. Bayer Leverkusen have provided the platform for Wirtz to excel, and Liverpool have clearly paid attention as they prepare to complete his £116million signing.
St. Pauli captain Jackson Irvine has also taken notice of the youngster's obvious talent, and several traits in particular. The Australian was part of the side that lost 2-1 to Leverkusen in December when Wirtz broke the deadlock, after which he hailed his ability to open up space in front of goal.
"He’s so good at finding space between the lines and his end product is just fantastic," he told The Athletic. "But he’s got this action where he shifts and shoots almost in motion.
"He just takes a touch across a defender, whether it’s a nutmeg or whatever, and he just seems to be able to just drift across you, even when you think you’ve got him going in the other direction."
And it isn't by luck that Wirtz, who is expected to fly to England for a medical this week, has developed a touch fit for the reigning Premier League champions. The former academy prospect opened up in the past about how he took it upon himself to refine this particular part of his game to gain such an edge.
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Florian Wirtz of Leverkusen is challenged by Jackson Irvine of St. Pauli during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC St. Pauli 1910 at BayArena on December 07, 2024
Wirtz scored when he and St. Pauli captain Jackson Irvine faced off in December
(Image: Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
He told SZ last year: "That was the first thing I noticed with the pros back then is that if I didn’t take the ball quickly enough to one side when receiving it, an opponent would take it away. The experienced players in Leverkusen, particularly Kerem Demirbay, gave me the tip that I really needed to be gone with the first touch. That was something I really tried to improve in training."
It would be an understatement to say the extra hours have worked to good effect as he prepares to become the Premier League's most expensive signing. The projected fee Liverpool will pay to acquire his skills will trump the existing record £115m Chelsea could end up paying for midfielder Moises Caicedo.
One Premier League scout, who chose to remains anonymous, gave another account of how Wirtz has transformed for the better. And that pertains more to the midfielder's temperament, opting to not take things so personally anymore when he's targeted by the opposition.
He too told the Athletic: "When players used to kick him and foul him, he could handle it, but it would break his focus. He’d sometimes target that player with his ability,
Florian Wirtz of Germany looks on prior to the UEFA Nations League 2025 third place match between Germany and France at Stuttgart Arena
The 22-year-old is set to become the Premier League's most expensive signing of all time
(Image: Getty Images)
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"[It was] like he was trying to make a point. But he doesn’t do that as much anymore. You can’t knock him out of his rhythm as easily. He doesn’t lose his calm."
That will come in particularly handy when Premier League defenders, who have a reputation for their aggression, come seeking him out. Wirtz is no longer as slight or diminutive as he once was in his youth but will nonetheless be heavily scrutinised by the opposition in England.
It's nothing he hasn't encountered before. And after already adapting his game to match the rigours of elite-level football, he's displaying all the qualities to suggest he'll meet the challenge once more at Anfield.