Liverpool’s club-record signing Florian Wirtz sent a major warning to the rest of the Premier League as he conducted his first sit-down interview with the club’s media channel.
The 22-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of Europe’s best attacking midfielders, has joined the Premier League champions from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth an initial £100 million plus £16 million in add-ons.
On Friday evening, it was confirmed that Wirtz has penned a long-term contract believed to be a five-year deal worth £195,000-a-week, according to Sky Sports, although that figure could rise to £245,000 a week if individual and team bonuses are met.
Speaking about his move to Liverpool, the Germany international could not contain his excitement at the prospect of playing for Arne Slot’s side.
“I feel very happy and very proud. Finally it’s done and I was waiting for a long time – finally it’s done and I am really happy,” he told Liverpool FC.
“I’m really excited to have a new adventure in front of me. This was also a big point of my thoughts: that I want to have something completely new, to go out of the Bundesliga and to join the Premier League.”
Wirtz added: “I will see how I can perform there. I hope I can do my best. I spoke also with some players who played there and they told me that it’s perfect for me and every pitch is perfect, you can enjoy every game. I’m really looking forward to playing my first game.”
Asked about his short-term targets with the club, Wirtz opened up on his ambitions.
I’m not coming [to] have fun here, I want also to achieve something and give the fans what they deserve,” he said. “Of course I want to keep going at this performance. So yeah, that sure gives motivation to achieve more.
“I would like to win everything every year. First of all, we have to do our work, I have to make my work. In the end, we want to be successful. Last season they won the Premier League so my goal is for sure to win it again and also to go further in the Champions League. I’m really ambitious.
“I see this as an opportunity for me to get better,” he added. “This was the right place for me.”
