Former Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has expressed his disappointment at Florian Wirtz's decision to join Liverpool over Bayern Munich.
Wirtz's move to Liverpool was confirmed last week as the Reds agreed to pay £100 million ($137 million) plus a further £16 million ($22 million) in possible add-ons for the Germany international.
It emerged in May that it was Wirtz's preference to join Liverpool, which came as something of a surprise considering the Reds were up against Bayern Munich to land his signature. Bayern has made a habit of hoovering up the best German players, and the expectation was that Wirtz would end up in Bavaria too, but he was ultimately won over by the Liverpool project.
Addressing the snub from Wirtz, Rummenigge told Welt Am Sonntag: "Generally speaking, I think it’s a pity. We’ve always had the philosophy that the best German players should play for FC Bayern.
"We gave it our all; in this case, no one made a mistake. It’s Florian’s decision – and we have to accept it."
Wirtz will report for the start of pre-season training on July 7, ahead of Liverpool's first 2025-26 warmup fixture away to Preston North End on July 13.
Speaking to club media as his transfer was announced, Wirtz said: “I feel very happy and very proud. Finally it’s done and I was waiting for a long time – finally it’s done and I am really happy.
Former Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Former Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
“I'm really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League.
“I will see how I can perform there. I hope I can do my best. I spoke also with some players who played there and they told me that it’s perfect for me and every pitch is perfect, you can enjoy every game. I’m really looking forward to playing my first game.”
Wirtz will be joined the AXA Training Center by fellow new signings Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi, and Freddie Woodman.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - MAY 30: Jeremie Frimpong new signing of Liverpool at AXA Training Centre on May 30, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz will be joined at the AXA Training Centre by Jeremie Frimpong (Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool has spent heavily this summer, but it has also brought in a significant amount of money through the sales of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Jarell Quansah, while Federico Chiesa, Ben Doak, Harvey Elliott, Darwin Nunez, and either Andy Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas could all still leave.
Despite forking out for Wirtz, Frimpong and Kerkez, Liverpool has apparently identified three striker targets as Arne Slot looks to bolster his attacking options.
Liverpool is apparently interested in Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Victor Osimhen, and has done its homework on all three targets.