Florian Wirtz has officially joined the elite list of footballers who have been signed for a nine-figure transfer fee. At just 22 years old, the German midfielder is set to join Liverpool for the 2025 season, after the reigning Premier League champions agreed to an initial £100 million transfer deal with Bayer Leverkusen. Depending on performance-related clauses and additional bonuses, the deal could escalate to £116 million, placing Wirtz among the most expensive signings in football history. This high-profile transfer not only marks Wirtz as Liverpool’s most expensive player ever, but also crowns him the costliest German footballer and the biggest sale by a Bundesliga club to date. Liverpool is no stranger to record-breaking transfers, having previously acquired Alisson Becker, the world’s second most expensive goalkeeper, and Virgil van Dijk, the second most expensive centre-back globally. The figures used in this ranking are based on initial transfer fees and, where necessary, reliable media estimates were included when official numbers weren’t disclosed. According to BBC Sport, the following players make up the top ten most expensive signings in football history: Top 10 Most Expensive Football Transfers (Initial Fees Only)
