“A Real Shame for Bundesliga”: Florian Wirtz’s £116m Liverpool Move Sparks Outrage in Germany

In a blockbuster move that has stunned both the Bundesliga and Premier League fans alike, Florian Wirtz is edging closer to completing a sensational transfer to Liverpool. The £116 million deal, which includes £100 million up front and £16 million in add-ons, is set to break the British transfer record—pending a successful medical in the UK later this week. 

But while the Anfield faithful are celebrating, back in Germany, the mood is far more somber. 

Hans-Joachim Watzke, Borussia Dortmund’s CEO and one of German football’s most influential voices, didn’t mince his words. Speaking to Kicker, Watzke lamented Wirtz’s departure from the Bundesliga: 

“It’s a real shame, especially for the DFL, that a player like Florian Wirtz is disappearing from the Bundesliga. I wouldn’t have had a problem at all if he had gone to FC Bayern.” 

The comments reveal a growing concern that the Bundesliga is losing its brightest stars to more lucrative offers abroad, especially from the Premier League. For Watzke, seeing Wirtz in a Bayern Munich shirt would have at least kept the talent within German borders and helped preserve the league’s global stature. 

Bayern Munich had hoped to keep the 22-year-old wonderkid in the domestic league. They saw Wirtz as the perfect partner for Jamal Musiala and a potential face of their next generation. But the playmaker was reportedly swayed by Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, who convinced him of a long-term vision at Anfield. 

Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, admitted the club simply couldn’t compete financially: 

“If I’m honest, I don’t know if we could have paid what Liverpool are apparently paying now. Florian Wirtz is an outstanding player. We could have imagined signing him. But when a door closes, another opens.” 

Instead, Bayern turned to free agents Tom Bischof and Jonathan Tah to reinforce their squad, but the hole left by Wirtz’s snub is already being felt. 

Joshua Kimmich, Bayern’s veteran midfielder, also voiced concern over the club’s attacking depth following the exits of Leroy Sane (to Galatasaray) and Thomas Muller (set to leave at the end of his contract). 

“You’ll have to ask the club what their plans are,” Kimmich remarked. “With Flo not coming, with Leroy leaving, with Thomas leaving, you do get the feeling we could have done more.” 

The shock over Sane’s decision to head to Turkey was particularly telling. Kimmich admitted he “didn’t expect that,” adding to the sense that Bayern’s grip on top-tier talent may be loosening. 

For Liverpool, Wirtz’s signing could be transformative. At just 22, he brings creativity, composure, and clinical vision to a midfield undergoing a major rebuild under Arne Slot. Manchester City had considered Wirtz as a long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne, but financial constraints saw them step back, opting instead for Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki. 

As Wirtz prepares to complete his medical and officially sign with Liverpool, German football is left grappling with a painful truth: the Bundesliga’s brightest talents may continue to look abroad for bigger paydays and greater prestige. 

Whether Wirtz becomes the next Bundesliga export to shine in the Premier League remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: his departure has reignited concerns about the competitiveness and financial clout of Germany’s top tier.