Liverpool agree club-record £116m deal to sign German midfielder Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen

Liverpool saw two bids rejected by Leverkusen, who had initially wanted £126m for Wirtz before accepting an initial £100m payment, plus bonuses of up to £16m.

The fee for the 22-year-old includes a guaranteed £100m and a further £16m in add-ons.

Those bonus payments would only become payable if the Reds achieve a sustained level of success – which would then make it a British record.

The British record for an initial fee remains Chelsea’s £107m signing of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica in 2023.

Chelsea also brought in Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo for an initial £100m fee, which could rise to £115m.

The move will, however, be a club-record fee for Liverpool.

Liverpool saw off major competition for the 22-year-old’s signature from Bayern Munich, Manchester City , and Real Madrid.

Wirtz will become Liverpool’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of former Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong. Arne Slot’s side are also interested in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.