Why Florian Wirtz Chose Liverpool Over Bayern Munich and Manchester City

Liverpool have won the race for the German in a record-breaking £116m move.

Florian Wirtz to Liverpool: An Era-Defining Move

There are signings that shape transfer windows, and then there are those that define eras. Florian Wirtz to Liverpool isn’t just the deal of the summer, it’s a statement of intent that could echo through European football for years. Bayern Munich wanted him, Manchester City rolled out their pitch, but Wirtz chose Liverpool. That decision wasn’t driven by money, flash, or even proximity to home. It was rooted in something much deeper: belief.

As a Liverpool fan, I’ve seen many players come and go. Some left a mark, others barely a memory. But Wirtz feels different. He’s not here for a payday. He’s here for prestige and the pull of Anfield. And if the signs are anything to go by, we are about to witness one of the most transformative midfield additions in a generation.

Prestige Over Paydays: Snubbing Bayern and City

Let’s make one thing clear: Wirtz didn’t need Liverpool. He had every option on the table. Bayern Munich, now under Vincent Kompany, offered the full charm offensive. They sold the dream of joining German football royalty. Club legends, silverware, playing alongside Harry Kane, and the historical resonance of wearing that famous red shirt. It’s easy to imagine the pressure on a young German lad to join Bayern — it’s expected.

Then came Manchester City. A club backed by bottomless wealth, a manager many regard as the greatest of all time, and a machine-like structure that churns out trophies. Yet, despite all that, Wirtz said no. And here’s where the game gets murky. City’s official line was that the deal was "too expensive." A club that paid over £100m for Jack Grealish and splashing on an obscene contractual package for Erling Haaland, now suddenly crying poor over Wirtz? Let’s be serious.

Reports suggest Wirtz was unconvinced by Guardiola’s uncertain future at the club. When asked about his longevity, Pep didn’t offer much assurance beyond the expiry of his current deal in 2027. It’s that lack of clarity that may have swung things. Arne Slot, on the other hand, made himself visible throughout negotiations. Guardiola, reportedly, did not. That matters. especially to a family-first player like Wirtz, whose inner circle remains tight and deeply involved.

Slot’s Liverpool Vision Seals the Deal

Where Bayern leaned on heritage and City on trophies, Liverpool leaned on both. Slot’s pitch wasn’t just convincing, it was inspired. He offered Wirtz a starring role in a team already crowned Premier League champions. A club with legacy, passion, and a project that screams evolution.

Liverpool didn’t promise riches, they offered responsibility. The heart of midfield creativity. Playing in front of the Kop. Linking with Mo Salah, feeding Luis Díaz, flaunting alongside Alexis Mac Allister. It's not a pitch, it’s a project and Wirtz is the centre piece.

Wirtz wants to play centrally. At Bayern, he'd likely be pushed wide to accommodate Musiala and Kane. At Liverpool, that number 10 role is his, no caveats. With Dominik Szoboszlai producing seven goals from midfield last season, Liverpool saw room for elevation. Wirtz, with 16 goals, brings that elevation in abundance.

The 22-year-old is still set earn a fair whack at Liverpool, signing a five-year deal, which will seem him earn around £17m-per-year - as a player of his quality should.

Wirtz: Pressing, Passion, and Premier League Ready

Let’s kill the lazy narrative that Wirtz won’t handle the physicality of English football. It’s nonsense. He’s press-resistant, positionally intelligent, and relentless off the ball. His pressing stats speak for themselves. He starts the defensive effort from the front, and that willingness to graft will make life easier for everyone behind him.

Think of the best teams in recent memory. High-pressing, hard-working, technically gifted midfielders that break lines and start attacks. Wirtz fits that mould, and yet he still brings a unique flair. He’s a risk-taker, a creator, and he’s already done it at the highest level for both club and country.

He also knows what it takes to perform at Anfield. Last season, he played there with Leverkusen in the Champions League, and they were humbled 4–0. That memory, that atmosphere, would’ve left a mark. Now he returns not as an opponent, but as a protagonist. A player who’ll feed off the energy of the crowd instead of fearing it.

This Is What Ambition Looks Like

And let’s talk about money. Christian Falk reported that Wirtz has taken a staggering £20.4 million wage cut to join Liverpool instead of Bayern. That’s unheard of in this modern era, where agents chase signing-on fees like trophies and players choose brand deals over legacies.

But Wirtz has always been different. Raised with a sense of financial perspective, his family famously capped his spending as a teenager. He wasn’t drawn to wealth, he was drawn to worth and that shows now. At Liverpool, he joins a project. At City, he would’ve joined a cycle. At Bayern, a machine.

With Jeremie Frimpong also signing for Liverpool, Wirtz now finds himself reunited with a close friend and former teammate. That comfort will help him settle quickly, both socially and on the pitch. Chemistry matters, and that bond will serve Liverpool well.

This is what happens when you mix ambition with authenticity. Wirtz didn’t need the biggest cheque, he needed the biggest challenge. And he found it at Anfield.

A Defining Transfer for a Defining Era

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have already turned heads. Winning the Premier League in his first season was no fluke. But adding Wirtz, a world-class creator just entering his prime, signals something far more seismic. This isn’t just about staying on top. It’s about building a dynasty.

Wirtz is more than a marquee signing. He’s a cultural statement. He represents the kind of player who values legacy over luxury. And in a footballing world increasingly dominated by shallow brand-building and tactical PR, that is priceless.

So let the doubters scoff. Let them question his price tag or whisper about his size. Because while they talk, Wirtz will be transforming Liverpool’s midfield and dragging defenders out of position with his movement and guile. And when that Kop roars his name, you’ll remember why he chose us.

Florian Wirtz didn’t follow the money. He followed the passion.