Manchester City have reached a “principle of global agreement” to sign 29-cap German international Florian Wirtz, as reported by Sacha Tavolieri. This potential transfer represents a significant coup for the Citizens as they look to bolster their attacking options following the confirmed departure of Kevin De Bruyne at the end of the current season.
The battle for Wirtz’s signature has been one of the most closely watched transfer sagas of recent months, with several European heavyweights expressing interest in the Bayer Leverkusen star. However, it appears that Manchester City have now taken a decisive lead in negotiations.
According to respected journalist Sacha Tavolieri, City have focused their efforts on direct negotiations with Leverkusen and have successfully reached a “principle of global agreement” to bring the 22-year-old to the Etihad Stadium. This development puts the Premier League champions in pole position to secure one of Europe’s most coveted young talents.
Wirtz has long been regarded as one of Europe’s most promising talents. Having made his debut for Bayer Leverkusen at just 17 years of age—becoming the club’s youngest-ever Bundesliga player in the process—the attacking midfielder has consistently demonstrated his exceptional abilities on the pitch.
However, it has been over the past two seasons under the guidance of Xabi Alonso that Wirtz has truly elevated his game to world-class levels. His performances have been instrumental in Leverkusen’s recent success, attracting attention from clubs across the continent.
The timing of this potential transfer is particularly significant given Alonso’s announced departure from Leverkusen at the season’s end. With his mentor leaving, this summer presents the perfect opportunity for Wirtz to take the next step in his burgeoning career.
Two clubs have emerged as the primary contenders for Wirtz’s signature: Manchester City and Bayern Munich. According to Lyall Thomas, Leverkusen would prefer to sell to City rather than to Bayern, whom they view as more direct domestic rivals in the Bundesliga.
While Bayern have reportedly concentrated on building a relationship with the player and his representatives, City’s approach of negotiating directly with Leverkusen appears to have paid dividends. Tavolieri reports that Wirtz himself has shown great respect for Leverkusen throughout the process and is cognizant of the potential repercussions of joining a direct rival in Bayern.
Both Manchester City and Bayern Munich are now awaiting Wirtz’s final decision, which could be announced as early as next week. In a late development, David Ornstein has reported that Liverpool, fresh from securing the Premier League title, have also contacted Leverkusen to express their interest in the German international, although it remains unclear whether the Merseyside club will formalize their interest with a concrete offer
Wirtz’s exceptional talent would undoubtedly flourish at either potential destination, but there are compelling arguments for why Manchester City might represent the ideal next step in his career.
Manchester City face the significant challenge of replacing Kevin De Bruyne, who has been the creative heartbeat of Guardiola’s side for nearly a decade. The Belgian’s imminent departure leaves a substantial void in City’s attacking midfield that Wirtz would be perfectly positioned to fill.
Throughout his tenure at City, Guardiola has consistently afforded De Bruyne greater attacking freedom and fewer defensive responsibilities compared to other midfielders. Often deploying the Belgian as a virtual second striker when City defend in a 4-4-2 formation, this tactical approach would align perfectly with Wirtz’s strengths.
The German international has demonstrated exceptional pressing abilities at Leverkusen, winning possession in the final third more frequently than 97% of Bundesliga attackers. Combined with his outstanding dribbling skills, this makes him particularly effective in transition situations—a key component of City’s attacking strategy.
Wirtz’s creative output is equally impressive. He averages more assists and expected assists per 90 minutes than 97.3% of attackers in the German top flight, with only Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise posting better numbers. While his 2.23 chances created per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga falls short of De Bruyne’s three chances per 90 in the Premier League, Wirtz actually outperforms the Belgian in this metric in Champions League competition.
For Bayern Munich, the potential acquisition of Wirtz takes on added significance given their own anticipated departures. Thomas Müller has already announced he will be leaving after an extraordinary 750 appearances for the club. Additionally, former City winger Leroy Sané is out of contract this summer, while Florian Plettenberg has reported that Kingsley Coman may also depart during the upcoming transfer window.
These departures would leave Bayern with only Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, and Jamal Musiala as established options for the three attacking positions behind Harry Kane. This situation could offer Wirtz the opportunity to become the focal point of Bayern’s next generation, potentially achieving a level of individual prominence that might be more difficult at City, where he would share the spotlight with global superstar Erling Haaland.
Wirtz possesses a rare combination of technical excellence, tactical intelligence, and creative vision that makes him an ideal candidate to fill the considerable void left by De Bruyne’s departure. The German international’s ability to find and exploit space between defensive lines mirrors one of De Bruyne’s greatest strengths.
At just 22 years old, Wirtz also represents a long-term investment for City. While De Bruyne has been the creative fulcrum of Guardiola’s side, his advancing age and recent injury concerns have highlighted the need for succession planning. Wirtz could potentially serve as City’s primary playmaker for the next decade.
Beyond his creative abilities, Wirtz’s pressing intensity would fit seamlessly into Guardiola’s system. The Spaniard places great emphasis on regaining possession quickly after turnovers, and Wirtz’s proven ability to win the ball in advanced areas would enhance City’s already formidable pressing game.
His versatility represents another significant asset. Though primarily deployed as an attacking midfielder, Wirtz has demonstrated the ability to operate effectively across the frontline. This positional flexibility would provide Guardiola with additional tactical options and help maintain squad balance despite the inevitable rotation throughout a demanding season
While specific financial details of the potential transfer remain undisclosed, it is expected that Wirtz would command a fee in excess of £80 million—potentially making him one of the most expensive transfers in Manchester City’s history.
For Bayern Munich, matching City’s financial package may prove challenging given the Premier League champions’ considerable resources. This economic reality, combined with Leverkusen’s reported preference to sell abroad rather than to a domestic rival, appears to have strengthened City’s position in negotiations.
Liverpool’s late interest adds another dimension to the financial considerations. The newly-crowned Premier League champions have demonstrated their willingness to invest significantly in transformative talents, as evidenced by their acquisition of players like Darwin Núñez and Virgil van Dijk. However, their hesitancy thus far to formalize their interest with a concrete offer suggests they may view City as too far advanced in negotiations to justify entering a bidding war
Should Wirtz complete his move to the Etihad, his arrival would necessitate some tactical adjustments from Guardiola. While the German’s technical abilities align perfectly with City’s possession-based approach, integrating a new creative fulcrum into an established system requires careful management.
Phil Foden has thrived in a more central role this season following the departure of Ilkay Gündogan last summer, raising questions about how Guardiola would accommodate both players in his starting lineup. However, Foden’s versatility would likely facilitate this transition, with the England international potentially shifting to a wider position to make room for Wirtz in central areas.
The potential signing would also raise questions about the future of Bernardo Silva, who has often operated in more advanced positions when De Bruyne has been unavailable. The Portuguese international has been linked with moves away from City in recent transfer windows, and Wirtz’s arrival could potentially accelerate his departure if playing time becomes more limited.
Wirtz’s potential arrival would represent the latest chapter in City’s continuous evolution under Guardiola. The Spaniard has consistently shown a willingness to reimagine his team’s tactical approach, even during periods of sustained success.
The departures of club legends like David Silva, Sergio Agüero, and now Kevin De Bruyne have all prompted significant shifts in City’s playing style, with Guardiola using each transition as an opportunity to introduce new tactical wrinkles rather than simply replacing like-for-like.
Wirtz’s signing would likely signal another such evolution. Rather than attempting to find a direct replica of De Bruyne—an essentially impossible task given the Belgian’s unique qualities—Guardiola appears intent on reshaping his midfield around a different, albeit equally gifted, creative talent.
This approach has served City well throughout Guardiola’s tenure. Each iteration of his team has maintained the core principles of possession, positional play, and pressing while introducing new elements that have kept opponents guessing and extended the club’s period of domestic dominanc
While nothing has been officially confirmed by either club, the reported “principle of global agreement” between Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz represents a significant development in one of this summer’s most high-profile transfer sagas.
If completed, the move would secure City one of Europe’s most exciting young talents and provide a compelling solution to the considerable challenge of replacing Kevin De Bruyne. For Wirtz, the opportunity to work under Guardiola and compete for the Premier League and Champions League represents
