Overview

• Florian Wirtz has signed a five-year contract at Anfield for an initial £100 million with up to £16 million in add-ons, setting a new club and British transfer record
• The 22-year-old turned down Bayern Munich, Manchester City and late interest from Real Madrid after persuasive recruitment pitches from coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes
• Former defender Rio Ferdinand lauded Liverpool’s clear recruitment model for outflanking Europe’s elite to secure their top midfield target
• Forbes and other analysts say the transfer underscores Liverpool’s emergence as the Premier League’s most attractive destination for world-class talent
• Klopp has cautioned that Wirtz’s hefty price tag will bring intensified performance demands and relentless public scrutiny