On June 15, the newly crowned champions of the English Premier League, Liverpool, struck again in the transfer market, spending a record-breaking 116 million pounds. They are about to sign the 21-year-old German "Golden Boy" Wirtz from the Bundesliga powerhouse Leverkusen, striving to build a new core for the new coach Slot to compete for the championship for two consecutive years.

Wirtz is regarded as one of Germany's most dazzling attacking midfielders in recent years. He not only has excellent skills, but also has the dual ability to organize and end attacks. Alonso, the current Real Madrid coach who once coached Wirtz, once spoke highly of this beloved disciple: " He reminds me of Messi - he knows when to pass the ball and when to simplify the action. He has a very high football IQ and is a world-class player. "

Wirtz was born in Cologne's youth training. He was signed by Leverkusen at the age of 17 , which caused a " gentleman 's agreement storm " between him and Cologne . Since his debut in the Bundesliga in March 2020 , he has risen rapidly and become the brain of Leverkusen's midfield.

Although he was sidelined for nearly a year in 2022 due to a serious cruciate ligament injury, he quickly returned to his peak form after returning from injury and shined in Alonso's tactical system. In the past season, he led the team to win the Bundesliga and German Cup double, and helped Leverkusen win the Bundesliga championship with an impressive record of unbeaten throughout the season. On a personal level, he completed a hat trick in a key battle and was named the Bundesliga Player of the Year.

Wirtz has played 197 games for Leverkusen so far , scoring 57 goals and contributing 65 assists. His comprehensive technical ability has made him favored by many giants. Although Bayern Munich also pursued him strongly, he firmly chose the Premier League and has already started learning English and adapting to the rhythm of the Premier League. His firm willingness to join the " Red Army " reflects his yearning for Anfield.

Facing the possibility that Liverpool's forward core Salah may leave the team in the future, the top management hopes that Wirtz can adapt quickly and become the new fulcrum and even successor of the team's offense. As Hans Flick, the former German coach and current Barcelona coach, said : " He has almost no shortcomings. He is an all-around midfielder with both skills, creativity, shooting and speed. "

The Reds' record-breaking signing of Wirtz not only demonstrates the team's ambition to win multiple championships, but also injects a midfield banner for the next decade into Sloter's new chapter at Liverpool.