Florian Wirtz took a big step in his career while leaving European giants empty-handed. German attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz has extended his contract with Bayer Leverkusen by another season, tying him to the club until 2028, according to reports coming from German outlets. Although the official announcement has not been made yet, the news was like a cold shower for clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Manchester United, which had set their sights on the young talent.
Follow Playing for 90 on X (Twitter).
This renewal not only extends Wirtz's stay with Leverkusen but also represents a major coup for the German club in a market that is becoming increasingly competitive and inflated. In the meantime, the 21-year-old places himself as the fulcrum of an ambitious sporting project in which he already shines as the absolute protagonist.
The talent that won over Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz signed with Bayer Leverkusen in January 2020 from Cologne at just 16 years of age. Since then, this German prodigy has grown but quickly emerged as one of the squad's most important players. Still at just 21 years, Wirtz has compiled an impressive record: 176 official matches with the first team, where he scored 52 goals and provided 54 assists.
The club's recent successes highlight his importance. Wirtz was instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga title win of 2023/24, alongside the DFB Pokal and German Supercup that same year. He is the creative engine of a Leverkusen outfit that, under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso, is slowly starting to rival Europe's biggest soccer powerhouses.
European giants left frustrated
No wonder Wirtz has attracted the interest of clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich. With his outstanding talent, his standout performances in the Bundesliga have made him one of the most wanted in the market, with months of speculation over his future. For Real Madrid, Wirtz is an essential part of their midfield rebuilding process if they want to keep their dominance in Europe. Barcelona see him as the creative spark to add depth and energy to their attack. Manchester City and United believe Wirtz could light up the Premier League with flair and vision. Bayern Munich, a club famous for poaching Bundesliga talent, had been closely monitoring the situation to strengthen their midfield with a decisive young star.
However, Wirtz's decision to renew shows that, at least for now, he's focused on solidifying his career at Bayer Leverkusen. The young playmaker has become a symbol of consistency and excellence, and the club has rewarded him for his loyalty: according to Kicker, Wirtz is now the highest-paid player in the squad.
Renewal to strengthen the project
Wirtz's decision to remain at Leverkusen shouldn't be seen as merely turning down bigger clubs; rather, it underlines his belief in a stable and solid sporting project. With Xabi Alonso at the helm, Leverkusen has transformed into a competitive unit with genuine aspirations of continuing their reign in Germany and causing ripples across Europe.
Unlike many young stars who leave too early in their careers, Wirtz opted for stability and continuity. His renewal is a win-win situation: Bayer Leverkusen retains their best player, while Wirtz continues to grow in an environment he knows well, where he enjoys total protagonism.