Florian Wirtz: Liverpool’s broken promises revealed

Robin Bairner
Robin Bairner
  • 1 Dec 2025 13:26 GMT
  • 4 min read
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, 2025/26
© IMAGO

Liverpool manager Arne Slot stands accused of having broken fundamental transfer promises to summer signing Florian Wirtz.

Article continues under the video

The Reds beat Bayern Munich to the signature of Wirtz for a fee of €125 million, which was a record before they later snapped up Alexander Isak before the summer transfer deadline.

What was a blockbuster move for the Anfield club has not started well, though. Wirtz has yet to record a goal or an assist through 12 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, while his only assists for his new club have come in the Community Shield and against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League – a match that was almost over when he made his two decisive passes.

Current ETV
Player image Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz

AM, M (C)

Liverpool logo

Liverpool

Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz

AM, M (C)

Liverpool

Liverpool

€138.1M

ETV Range

€124.2M - €151.9M

Liverpool have BROKEN promises to Florian Wirtz – Bayern CEO claims

While Wirtz still has much to prove in England, Bayern Munich CEO Uli Hoeness has clearly been watching his fortunes with interest – and the German has been left unimpressed with Liverpool’s attitude towards the player.

“Apparently, Slot promised him something that he's now clearly not keeping. He promised him he'd get the No.10 shirt and that he'd build a new team around him,” Hoeness told SID.

“That was rubbish. He got the No.7 shirt, and the new team is clearly not playing around Florian Wirtz.

“I feel terribly sorry for him. Everything went through him in Leverkusen. In Liverpool, he gets five passes in a half – and if he loses the ball twice, he gets a bad rating.”

Big-money signings Florian Wirtz (left) and Alexander Isak are struggling at Liverpool
© IMAGO - Big-money signings Florian Wirtz (left) and Alexander Isak are struggling at Liverpool

’Salah and Szoboszlai want to play on their own’

Hoeness went on to slam Liverpool’s transfer policy in the summer, claiming the Reds focussed too much on signing superstars and not enough on building a team to make superstars like Wirtz most effective.

“They spent €500m and are having a disastrous season,” he continued. “In my opinion, that's because they only have superstars. They only have 'chiefs' and no 'workers'. I always say that Liverpool will soon have to play with five balls because the stars won't let go of the ball. Poor Florian Wirtz, he doesn't even get a ball because Salah and Szoboszlai and all the others want to play with their own.”

Slot took decisive action for Sunday’s Premier League clash against West Ham, which included dropping Salah to the bench.

Despite this, Wirtz, whose Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has risen to €138m since joining Liverpool on a five-year deal, was unable to get his first Premier League goal or assist.

Related stories:

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool return decision announced

Mo Salah's future revealed by Arne Slot after Liverpool legend benched

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