At just 22, German playmaker Florian Wirtz has already taken the Bundesliga by storm. Now, with a British record-breaking move to Liverpool, fans and analysts alike are asking the same question: where exactly will this generational talent fit in at Anfield?
Liverpool land a star on the rise
“His name is going to go stratospheric in the next season or two.”That’s how German football journalist Raphael Honigstein describes Florian Wirtz—Liverpool’s new £100m marquee signing. The young midfielder, hailed as one of the most complete players in Europe, joins the Premier League champions in a deal that could rise to £116m with add-ons, marking a potential new British transfer record. Wirtz, who made his Bundesliga debut at just 17 and scored against Bayern Munich less than three weeks later, has been a consistent creative force for Bayer Leverkusen. Since his debut, he has tallied 44 assists in the league—ranking third overall despite being years younger than his closest statistical peers.
“He is more or less the fully-formed article,” Honigstein told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He’ll bring a lot of class and poise. He’s used to high expectations with Leverkusen and Germany, but the Premier League will test his speed and physicality in new ways.”
Liverpool’s intent is clear. With Wirtz and fellow Leverkusen signing Jeremie Frimpong already secured, and a move for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez reportedly imminent, the club appears to be ushering in a new tactical era under Arne Slot.
Tactical clarity sets Liverpool apart
Wirtz was heavily courted this summer, with Bayern Munich and Manchester City among the suitors. But it was Liverpool’s strategic clarity that proved decisive. “The key factor was that Liverpool presented a really thought-out vision,” Honigstein explained. “Other clubs couldn’t define exactly where he would play—especially Bayern, who would struggle to pair him with Jamal Musiala. At Liverpool, his role was clearly outlined.”
Wirtz’s most natural position is as a number 10—an advanced playmaker operating centrally behind a striker. Slot, known for blending Dutch positional play with modern pressing systems, sees Wirtz as a central cog in his tactical machine. “He will be the fulcrum in attack,” Honigstein added. “He picks up space between the lines, delivers the killer pass, and has an eye for goal. A very modern number 10.”
The challenge, however, is fitting him into an already talent-rich midfield.
Midfield puzzle: who makes way?
Arne Slot’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation offers a natural home for a player like Wirtz. Last season, the German started 23 of 31 Bundesliga matches in the number 10 role, often drifting left to exploit half-spaces. In Liverpool’s reshaped midfield, Wirtz could occupy that role—but at what cost? Ryan Gravenberch has recently emerged as a key figure in a deeper-lying pivot role, likely securing one of the two defensive midfield spots. That puts pressure on attack-minded midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to retain their places.
Szoboszlai boasts higher attacking output in terms of goals and assists, while Mac Allister contributes more defensively. Both are intelligent, versatile players—but only one may have room to start if Wirtz is slotted in as the 10. “Szoboszlai is the most interesting one,” said John Gibbons of The Anfield Wrap on BBC Radio 5 Live. “That’s where Wirtz would naturally play based on his Leverkusen form. But Slot loves Szoboszlai—he helps Salah, he presses, he’s tireless. Slot will want both on the pitch if possible.”
One solution? Repositioning.
Reimagining the false nine
If Wirtz can’t displace Szoboszlai or Mac Allister in midfield, he could be deployed further forward—perhaps in a reimagined false nine role that Roberto Firmino once made his own.
In Slot’s Feyenoord system, the central striker often dropped into midfield to link play, drawing defenders and allowing wingers to cut inside. It’s a system PSG also exploited with non-traditional forwards like Ousmane Dembélé operating centrally.
With Mohamed Salah locked in on the right and Luis Díaz and Cody Gakpo offering width from the left, a deep-lying central forward could provide Liverpool with a new attacking dimension. Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez have had inconsistent form in that role, so Wirtz—or even Szoboszlai—might offer a more technically gifted solution.
“Liverpool with number nines hasn’t quite worked,” said Gibbons. “This could be the alternative—someone who plays deeper and links up, allowing Salah and Díaz to attack the space. If you look at PSG, they made it work beautifully.”
The additions of Frimpong and potentially Kerkez reinforce this system, offering pace and width from full-back. If Slot does draw from the PSG playbook, Wirtz could become not just a creator—but the focal point of Liverpool’s positional play.
What Wirtz brings to the Premier League
At just 22, Wirtz already plays with a maturity that belies his age. He’s an elite dribbler—both in frequency and efficiency—and consistently ranks among the Bundesliga’s best for chance creation and through balls. His ability to think and act at high speed makes him well-suited to the tempo of English football. More than anything, he brings unpredictability. Whether operating behind a striker or floating into wide channels, he’s capable of turning defenders, finding incisive passes, or finishing attacks himself. Liverpool, already rich in talent, now adds a player who can change the rhythm of a game in an instant.
“He’s not easily intimidated,” Honigstein said. “He rises to the challenge. You’re not just buying potential—you’re buying a superstar.”
The bigger picture: a new Liverpool era?
Florian Wirtz may be the headline signing, but his arrival signifies more than just a blockbuster transfer. Alongside Frimpong, Kerkez, and a manager with a bold tactical blueprint, Liverpool appear to be constructing a team for the next five years—not just the next title defense.
Slot’s vision is beginning to crystallize: technical flexibility, pressing intelligence, and attacking flair. And Wirtz is set to be at the center of it all. Now the question isn’t just “Where will Wirtz play?” It’s “How far can he take them?”
