Liverpool supporters are delighted with the club’s transfer business, but no one excites them more than Florian Wirtz.
The Reds paid a club-record fee for Wirtz earlier this summer, beating the likes of Manchester City and Bayern Munich to bring the German international to Anfield.
He will wear the number 7 this season, recently vacated by Luis Diaz and previously worn by club legends such as Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Callaghan, and Kevin Keegan.
Wirtz may not remain the Reds’ marquee signing past the 1 September deadline. Liverpool are continuing to pursue Alexander Isak and would need to sanction a fee higher than the £116 million paid for Wirtz to pry the Swede out of Newcastle United.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Everton FC at St James' Park on May 25, 2025
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
The German has hit the ground running with a string of impressive displays throughout pre-season, and if he carries his form into the Premier League curtain raiser at Anfield, he could find himself etched into history alongside some esteemed countrymen.
Florian Wirtz could join Klinsmann and Gundogan with debut goal
According to BBC Sport, Wirtz would become the third German footballer in Premier League history to score on his debut should he find the back of the net against Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old would join German legend Jurgen Klinsmann, who scored on his Tottenham debut against Sheffield Wednesday in 1984, and former Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan, who scored in his maiden bow against Bournemouth in 2016.
Furthermore, Wirtz was one of six players to reach double-digit goal returns in Europe’s top five leagues last season, contributing 10 goals and 12 assists in his final year at Bayer Leverkusen – earning the German a Ballon d’Or nomination.
Florian Wirtz during Crystal Palace v Liverpool in the 2025 FA Community Shield
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Wirtz impressed alongside Hugo Ekitike in the Community Shield on Sunday, assisting the Frenchman for his first goal for Liverpool only four minutes into the contest.
Meanwhile, his club-record fee will carry a weight of expectation along with it, although Arne Slot backs Wirtz to handle the pressure; all eyes will be on his performances throughout the entirety of his debut campaign.
Where does Florian Wirtz rank compared to Steven Gerrard?
Liverpool have not had a world-class talisman in the centre of the park since Philippe Coutinho completed their club-record departure to Barcelona in 2018.
However, Steven Gerrard is fondly remembered as the most gifted midfielder in all aspects of the game to ever sport the famous red shirt.
The Scouser enjoyed his most prolific season throughout the 2008/09 campaign under Rafael Benitez, but surprisingly, his efforts fell just short of what Wirtz achieved during Bayer Leverkusen’s historic undefeated Bundesliga season.
Rank Player Season Appearances Goals Assists G/A Total
1 Florian Wirtz 2023/24 (Bayer Leverkusen) 49 18 20 38
2 Steven Gerrard 2008/09 (Liverpool) 44 24 13 37
Had Leverkusen triumphed against Atalanta in the Europa League final that year, then it would be considered the undefeated treble-winning season for the German outfit.
Nevertheless, had Gerrard featured just five more times in the most productive campaign of his Liverpool career, he may have outperformed Wirtz.