A new star at Anfield

Premier League champions Liverpool have finalised the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a blockbuster transfer, reportedly costing close to £116 million (€137m/$158m). At just 22, the attacking midfielder is seen by many as the future of German football. As he begins this next chapter at Anfield, can he surpass the achievements of the legends who came before?

"The best in Germany"

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann told The Athletic that Wirtz is "exceptional, the best player we've got in Germany" - a bold statement that raises questions about his place among German football's elite.

Modern greats

Among current German players, Wirtz must also compete with a plethora of established stars such as Jamal Musiala (pictured), Joshua Kimmich, İlkay Gündoğan and Antonio Rüdiger to be considered the nation's finest footballer.

Recent Premier League struggles

However, one area for concern is the trend of recent German imports to the Premier League failing to live up to the hype: Kai Havertz (pictured), Timo Werner and Leroy Sané all struggled to reach their potential in England, raising questions about whether Wirtz can be the exception.

Werner's cautionary example

Timo Werner's struggles at Chelsea then Tottenham, scoring just 12 goals in 87 Premier League games (per Transfermarkt), demonstrate how even the most-hyped Germans can fail to reach their potential in the Premier League environment.

Sané's mixed record

Likewise, Leroy Sané may have won two Premier League titles with City, but for all his promise, he eventually fell out of favour with Pep Guardiola and was shipped out to Bayern Munich in 2020.

Havertz comparison

However, it's Kai Havertz's 80-million-euro move (per Transfermarkt) from Leverkusen to Chelsea in 2020 ($87m/£70m) that most closely mirrors Wirtz's transfer. Arriving as the Bundesliga's standout player, the now Arsenal man's mixed success provides a cautionary tale for Liverpool's record signing.

Different player profile

However, in contrast to Havertz's elegance and technical qualities, Wirtz is more of a dynamic dribbler. This different playing style could be key to him achieving greater success than his compatriots.

Title-winning experience

What's more, Wirtz arrives with Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles from Leverkusen, plus Champions League and international experience. This trophy cabinet already exceeds many German players at his age.

Street smart

Additionally, Hamann believes Wirtz's tough mentality sets him apart: "He's like a street kid. He won't shirk a challenge." These are certainly qualities that would help him to thrive in England.

Premier League readiness

"He won't be worried or afraid about the physical side of the Premier League," Hamann adds. This confidence could be crucial in helping Wirtz achieve greatness in England.

Tactical development

Under Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, Wirtz flourished in a possession-based system that maximised his creative abilities, getting him into areas of the field where he could regularly cause the most damage.

Decision-making

Alonso's coaching philosophy emphasised intelligent movement and quick decision-making, helping Wirtz develop the football intelligence that sets him apart from his German contemporaries.

Invincible

Under Alonso's guidance, Wirtz learned to thrive in high-pressure situations, delivering key performances in Leverkusen's 2023-24 Invincible campaign, scoring 11 goals and laying on 12 assists, according to Transfermarkt.

Similar systems

While Arne Slot's Liverpool set up in a different formation to Leverkusen, the two sides' styles are quite similar, with a focus on dominating possession, exploiting half-spaces and hitting opponents with quick transitions.

Liverpool's winning culture

Joining Liverpool's winning culture should also provide the perfect environment for Wirtz to further his development, with the club's history of nurturing world-class talent there for all to see.

Transformational signing

The Reds don't tend to spend big on transfers, so the club will be hoping (and expecting) that Wirtz turns out to be a transformational signing, in the same way that both Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk elevated the club to new levels.

Dynamic attack

Wirtz comes into a team with an already formidable attack. He will be linking up with (and feeding) the likes of Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, plus a new forward who is likely to join the ranks.

What Wirtz must do

To enter the conversation of German greats, Wirtz must deliver major silverware at Liverpool. Premier League titles, Champions League success and being in Ballon d'Or contention over multiple seasons are essential benchmarks.

German success stories

Jürgen Klinsmann, Michael Ballack (pictured), İlkay Gündoğan and Mesut Özil proved that Germans can thrive in England. However, Wirtz must exceed their achievements to be considered the nation's greatest footballer.

International obstacles

Germany's greatest players all won major international tournaments. Wirtz must therefore also lead Germany to World Cup or European Championship glory to be mentioned in the same breath as Beckenbauer, Müller and Matthäus. However, given the current crop of players, this could prove to be challenging...