Jurgen Klopp says Floran Wirtz transfer to Liverpool 'an insane sum' and wonders if German can make Arne Slot's side 'even better'
Published 29/06/2025 at 20:58 GMT+1
Jurgen Klopp has hinted that the transfer fee Liverpool have paid for Florian Wirtz could add extra pressure to the German international's shoulders. The forward has moved from Bayer Leverkusen for £116.5million, the most a British club have ever spent on a player. Former Reds boss Klopp says it is an "insane" amount of money, and thinks only time will tell whether he makes them a better team.
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Jurgen Klopp has questioned whether Florian Wirtz will make Liverpool "even better," after the Reds splashed out a British record transfer fee for his signature.
Wirtz arrives at Anfield after scoring ten goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances last season.
The 22-year-old was also a central figure as Leverkusen won the German title in 2023/24, one of three major honours from his club career.
Despite that, former Liverpool boss Klopp has branded his transfer fee as "insane," and wonders whether it will put unnecessary pressure on his shoulders.
"There's no question about it, it's an insane sum," he told German news outlet Welt.
"One that a player at Liverpool is aware of if things don't go well for two or three games."
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The fee paid for Wirtz is £1.5m more than what Chelsea splashed out for Moises Caicedo when they bought him from Brighton two years ago.
It also comfortably eclipses the £85m Klopp paid for Darwin Nunez, previously the most Liverpool have spent on a player, when the Uruguayan joined from Benfica.
Klopp left the Anfield club last summer after nine successful years at Anfield.
During his time on Merseyside, the German ended the club's 30-year wait for a league title, while also lifting the UEFA Champions League in 2019.
His replacement in the dugout was Dutchman Arne Slot, and he made only one major addition to his first-team squad last summer, with Federico Chiesa joining from Juventus.
That did not prevent Liverpool from waltzing away with a 20th English title though, as they eventually finished ten points clear of nearest challengers Arsenal.
Since then, the Reds have embarked on a major summer spending spree.
Wirtz will be joined at Anfield by fellow former Bayer Leverkusen man Jeremie Frimpong, while Milos Kerkez's arrival from Bournemouth means they have already splashed out close to £200m.
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Florian Wirtz has joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen
Image credit: From Official Website
Klopp is a fan of the former, but believes it remains to be seen whether the German international will improve Liverpool's strikeforce.
"We all agree that we're talking about a great player here," he added.
"I know I once said that I'm out if we pay 100 million euros for a player. But the world is changing. That's just the way the market is.
"He's an outstanding player who can give any club something great. Whether he'll make the reigning English champions even better remains to be seen."
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