Florian Wirtz is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant talents of world football at its 21st birthday. Its possible transfer to the Bayern Munich or Manchester City in 2025 has unleashed a whirlwind of speculation, with the Bayer Leverkusen tasing it in about 120 million euros, although its market value could exceed 140 million according to Transfermarkt.
Technical Analysis of Florian Wirtz
Wirtz is an offensive midcenter with an exceptional versatility, able to play as “10”, right or left end (as an inverted interior), and even fall to midfield areas to start plays. Its main attributes include:
- Vision of game and creativity: Wirtz has a radar to find spaces and filter decisive passes. Its associative capacity makes it ideal to disarm compact defenses.
- Regate and control: Your driving in small spaces is outstanding, with a low-gravity center and a clean technique that allows you to get out of pressure situations.
- Completion: Although it is not a pure scorer, it has a remarkable instinct to get to the area and define with precision, either with placed shots or first-class auctions.
- Mobility and defensive work: Not only does it contribute in attack; its tactical intelligence allows you to recover balls and press high, something key in modern systems.
- Mental Maturity: After overcoming a severe cross ligament injury in 2022, it has shown resilience and leadership, being the axis of the Leverkusen champion of the Bundesliga 2023-24.
Weakness:
- It can disappear in games where the rival blocks his area of influence (mediapunta).
- Physically, albeit agile, it is not imposing, which could be a challenge in more physical leagues like the Premier League.
- Its consistency in large scenarios (Champions League or key duels) is still developing.
In short, Wirtz is a modern playmaker with a profile comparable to players like Kevin De Bruyne in his youth or a more experienced Musial Jamal. Its ability to dictate the rhythm and unbalance makes it a coveted piece.
Tactical lace at the Bayern Munich (trainer: Vincent Kompany)
The Kompany Bayern for the 2024-25 season has opted for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 scheme, placing a strong emphasis on the possession of the ball, fast transitions and high pressure. Wirtz could fit perfectly as a central or right internal midpoint in this Bavarian system, facing the competition of players such as Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala or Michael Olise.
- Rol in the scheme:
- As a media point (10): Wirtz would be the link between the midfield (Kimmich-Palhinha) and Harry Kane. Their vision and filtered passes would maximize the arrivals of Kane, Gnabry or Sané, while their mobility would generate spaces for the lanes (Davies or Boey).
- As a right interior: In a 4-3-3, you could play along with a defensive pivot, allowing you freedom to associate with Sané or Coman by band and search for diagonals to the area.
- Tactical supplement: Kompany values defensive intensity, and Wirtz has already shown under Xabi Alonso that he can press high and recover balls. His creativity would add a plus to the Bayern attack, which sometimes depends too much on Kane or Musiala.
- Advantages:
- Wirtz knows the Bundesliga and would not need adaptation.
- His youth fits with Kompany’s long-term project, which seeks to rejuvenate the template.
- It could form a lethal trio with Musiala and Kane, combining technique, vision and goal.
- Challenges:
- Internal competence: Musiala and Müller occupy similar positions, which could generate a tactical dilemma.
- The pressure at the Bayern is higher than in Leverkusen. Wirtz should demonstrate immediate leadership to justify a record investment.
Tactical lace in Manchester City (trainer: Pep Guardiola)
The Manchester City of Guardiola plays with a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system, focusing on maintaining the possession of the ball, making coordinated movements and controlling the rhythm of the game. Wirtz is considered the perfect long-term replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who, at the age of 33, begins to signal being a little worn out.
- Rol in the scheme:
- As a media point (10): In 4-2-3-1, Wirtz would play behind Haaland, free to connect with Foden, Bernardo Silva or Grealish. Its ability to filter passes would be lethal to feed Haaland or generate superiorities in the last third.
- As a right or left interior: In the 4-3-3, you could occupy the role of De Bruyne or Gundogan, alternating between building from the back and reaching the area. Your versatility would allow you to adapt to Guardiola’s constant rotations.
- Tactical supplement: Guardiola’s high pressure and positional game fit perfectly with Wirtz’s profile. His intelligence to read spaces and his work without a ball would make him a favorite of the Catalan technician.
- Advantages:
- The City offers an ideal environment to polish your talent under Guardiola, known for boosting creative midfielders.
- His arrival would cover the eventual departure of De Bruyne and add freshness to a template that needs to be renewed.
- The Premier League would give you global exposure, consolidating it as a global star.
- Challenges:
- The physical intensity of the Premier could be an initial obstacle.
- The cost of adaptation to a new country, language and lifestyle could delay its impact.
- Competition with Foden, which also aspires to the role of “10” or creative interior.
Florian Wirtz statistics
First full season (2020-21, Bayer Leverkusen)
- Competitions: Bundesliga, Europa League, DFB-Pokal
- Parties: 38 (29 in Bundesliga)
- Goles: 8 (5 in Bundesliga)
- Attendance: 8 (6 in Bundesliga)
- Minutes: ~2,600
- Notes: Debuted as a professional in May 2020 and, with just 17 years old, consolidated as a holder. He was the youngest scooter in the history of the Bundesliga (record later surpassed by Moukoko) and showed flashes of his quality, although the Leverkusen did not achieve titles.
Season 2024-25 (up to March 2025, Bayer Leverkusen)
- Competitions: Bundesliga, Champions League, DFB-Pokal
- Matches: 25 in Bundesliga, more matches in other competitions (~36 totals)
- Goles: 9 in Bundesliga, 15 in total (all competitions)
- Attendance: 10 in Bundesliga, 13 in total
- Minutes: ~1,880 in Bundesliga
- Notes: Wirtz has been the creative leader of the Leverkusen, with a direct impact on the attack (19 goals and consistency in Bundesliga). Its non-criminalized xG (0.36 for 90 minutes) and shooting accuracy (68%) reflect its efficiency. However, an injury to the ankle (March 2025) kept it out a few weeks, although it is already back.
Comparative:
- In 2020-21, Wirtz was a promising rookie with solid numbers for his age.
- In 2024-25, he has become a decisive player, with an average of 0.91 goals+assistances for 90 minutes, becoming the 90th percentile of the Bundesliga. Their evolution is evident in their leadership and consistency.
Current page of Florian Wirtz (2025)
- Full name: Florian Richard Wirtz
- Age: 21 years (born on 3 May 2003)
- Nationality: German
- Club: Bayer Leverkusen
- Position: Offensive Mediacenter (can play as extreme or interior)
- Height: 1.77 m
- Dominant piece: Law
- Contract: Until 30 June 2027
- Market value: 140 million euros (Transfermarkt)
- Estimated wage: ~5-7 million euros per year (there are no recent official data)
- Agent: Your family manages your interests
- Sponsor: Adidas
Extended Analysis: The new king of German football or a risky bet?
Is Wirtz the new king of German football?
Wirtz has everything to be:
- Generation Talent: At 21 years old, it is already compared to legends like Mesut Özil or Thomas Müller in its prime, but with a higher ceiling for its versatility.
- Immediate impact: It was key in the historical title of the Leverkusen in 2023-24 (11 goals, 11 assists in Bundesliga) and in the DFB-Pokal, breaking the hegemony of the Bayern.
- International projection: His performances at Eurocopa 2024 (2 goals in 5 games) and his role in the German selection place him as the natural heir of Toni Kroos or Ilkay Gundogan.
- Mentality: Overcoming a serious injury and leading a “not favorite” team to the title demonstrates its mental strength.
However, the title of “king” implies maintaining a high level in important situations. Wirtz still has to prove his worth in the Champions League and those high-pressure matches, such as the European finals or the classics. Players like Musiala, who could be his rival at the Bayern, are also in the race for that throne.
Is that a risky bet?
For 120-140 million, any tile carries risks:
- High cost: The Bayern or the City would pay a record figure, which will generate immediate expectations. If it does not yield to the level of a “galactic” since the first day, the media pressure will be enormous.
- Adaptation: In the Bayern, the transition would be smoother by language and league, but in the City, the cultural change and the intensity of the Premier could slow down its impact.
- Internal competition: In both clubs, he would compete with consolidated stars (Musiala, Foden), which could limit his minutes or generate tactical conflicts.
- Injuries: Although he recovered well from his cross ligament injury, his recent ankle problem (2025) recalls that he is not immune.
Still, the risk seems calculated. Wirtz has already proved to be an elite player in a top league, and his youth guarantees a long-term investment. His profile fits with the evolution of modern football, where the creative midfielders are pure gold.
Who needs it more: Bayern or City?
- Bayern: You need to rejuvenate your midfield and regain the domain in Europe. Wirtz would be a symbolic blow (wrapping it to the Leverkusen) and tactical, but the investment could unbalance your budget if they don’t sell someone like Musiala or Kimmich.
- City: Look for a successor to De Bruyne and an impulse after an irregular 2024-25 season. Your financial muscle facilitates the tile, and Guardiola could turn Wirtz into the best in the world, but it is not an urgent need with Foden and others in the template.
Final review
Wirtz is not just a promise; it is already a reality. Your signing for the Bayern or the City would be a strategic movement to dominate the next decade. In the Bayern, he could become the face of a new cycle; in the City, he would be the perfect disciple for Guardiola. I don’t think your price is an obstacle, considering your enormous potential, but your success will really depend on how you handle the pressure of such a big club. The new king? He’s on his way, but he needs a great European title to crown himself. For now, it is a safe investment with a minimal risk.
