The reason why Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz turned down Manchester City in favour of a proposed move to Liverpool has been revealed. The young German superstar has become the transfer saga of the summer, with two of England's biggest clubs known to have been eyeing up his signature.
It was initially believed that City were the frontrunners as they looked to fill the void left by the impending departure of Kevin De Bruyne. However, reports emerged that the Etihad outfit were pulling out of the deal due to the finances involved, leaving the Premier League champions in pole position. And it has now been revealed that Wirtz himself preferred the switch to Anfield, with the reason why coming to light.
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Why Wirtz Prefers Liverpool Move to City
The German cited one major factor according to a new report
According to a report from Bild, Wirtz's choice to lean towards signing for Liverpool over City stems from his concern surrounding the future of the Sky Blues and, more specifically, manager Pep Guardiola. Guardiola signed a new two-year contract extension amid the beginning of a bad run of form in 2024, which is set to keep him at the club until 2027.
The Catalan native has not been clear as to what his future holds after the expiration of his current deal, refusing to confirm whether he will continue at the club or bring to an end his decade-plus tenure. For Wirtz, stable surroundings have been earmarked as a priority for his next move as he looks to continue to deliver on the promise of his potential.
As a result, he sees Anfield as the right destination to take the next step in his career. This is despite the fact that Arne Slot's contract also expires at the end of the 2026/2027 season, though it is largely expected, barring an incredible drop-off, that the Dutchman will be rewarded with a new contract following his incredible first season.
With that, Wirtz looks set to link up with fellow Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong, as two of the biggest names from Xabi Alonso's historic side look to create more history at the Spaniard's former club.
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All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt - accurate as of 29/05/2025.