Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen this summer for a staggering £116 million, has not yet fully lived up to his lofty price tag in the early stages of his tenure. However, many figures in the football world still firmly believe he possesses the potential to become a world-class star.
Since joining Liverpool, his performances have failed to fully meet the high external expectations—a fact evident from the criticism voiced by some fans on social media. At Liverpool, even an average performance can become the focus of public opinion. He is not the only new signing under pressure: another summer recruit, Korkez, was substituted after just 38 minutes in last weekend’s match and also faced considerable doubt.
While Liverpool currently sits atop the league table with a perfect five wins from five matches, the club’s internal staff may dismiss these external criticisms and even urge the public to show more patience. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that we have yet to see the best version of Wirtz. At the same stage last year, he had already contributed 4 goals and 1 assist for Bayer Leverkusen, but so far this season, he has not been directly involved in any goals in the attacking phase.
According to sources within the club, Wirtz still needs time to adapt to the drastically different match intensity and physical duel standards of the Premier League. A similar scenario played out for his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong, who struggled with muscle injuries for a period after joining Liverpool. From Kai Havertz and Timo Werner to Jadon Sancho, most players moving from the Bundesliga to the Premier League have had to go through an adaptation period.
Wirtz and his family ultimately chose Liverpool, turning down offers to stay in the Bundesliga or join other Premier League rivals. He has already gained a preliminary taste of the Premier League’s intensity and showcased a moment of brilliance in the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid.
Despite the heavy burden of his high transfer fee, Wirtz has not felt pressured by it; instead, he approaches the topic with a relaxed attitude in the dressing room. He is described as a low-key, focused player who is purely dedicated to football. Both within the club and among the fanbase, there is a widespread belief: it is only a matter of time before Wirtz truly shines in the Premier League and justifies the transfer fee Liverpool paid for him.
