Florian Wirtz's big-money move to Liverpool has hit early turbulence, with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand claiming the German midfielder may already be questioning whether he made the right choice. The £116 million ($155m) signing, who turned down Bayern Munich and Manchester City, has endured a mixed start to life under Arne Slot at Anfield.
Wirtz under huge pressure following slow start
Wirtz is under pressure after a subdued start to his Premier League career. The 22-year-old joined the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer but has struggled for consistency in his first months at Anfield. While he started brightly with an assist in the Community Shield, Wirtz has been in and out of Arne Slot’s starting lineup since and has found himself benched for key league fixtures against Everton, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
The former Leverkusen playmaker, who was expected to take up a central role as Liverpool’s new No.10, has instead been deployed out wide or in a deeper midfield position in several matches. His creative spark was reignited on his return to Germany for Liverpool’s Champions League 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, where he produced two assists to end a 10-game goal contribution drought. However, questions persist about whether Wirtz’s adaptation period is being complicated by tactical adjustments and Premier League physicality.
Liverpool had initially made Wirtz the most expensive signing in British football history before breaking their own record weeks later with the £125m arrival of Alexander Isak. The Reds continue to back the Germany international, but Ferdinand has now highlighted the intense scrutiny surrounding Wirtz’s adaptation to English football.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFerdinand questions German's state of mind
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast before the Frankfurt game, the former Manchester United defender admitted that Wirtz’s current situation would leave any player second-guessing themselves. "It’s a huge call – you’re a £100m player," Ferdinand said. "I was a record signing a couple of times in my career, and if at any point in those first two or three months, if a manager dropped me for a game of that importance and significance, there would have been huge doubts in my mind."
Ferdinand added: "Doubts would creep in, it would be impossible that you don’t start thinking ‘have I made the right decision?’ I was with a player, I can’t mention his name, he was a big signing for a team, and he said he started slow at one of the teams he signed for, and he was going: ‘Oh my god, have I made the right decision?‘ There is no doubt in my mind right now that when Wirtz saw his name not on that team sheet that he was going on his way home, in the warm-up, in his bed that night: ‘Is this the right decision?’"
Ferdinand concluded by insisting that his remarks were not a criticism but a reality of life as a high-priced transfer. "I’m not saying it’s the wrong decision, but I’d have a big amount of money if I was a gambling man that there would have been a thought in his mind that said that and went along those lines."
Wirtz still backed to succeed at Anfield
Wirtz’s move to Liverpool in the summer of 2025 was one of the most talked-about transfers in Europe. Signed from Bayer Leverkusen after guiding the German side to a domestic double one season earlier, the 22-year-old was expected to become the creative hub of Slot’s new-look team. The nine-figure deal reflected Liverpool’s determination to secure one of Europe’s brightest young talents and build for the future following the departures of several midfield mainstays.
However, Wirtz’s transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League has not been seamless. Used in several different attacking roles, his early numbers have been modest by his usual standards – though his underlying data paints a more promising picture. Wirtz ranks among Liverpool’s top creators for chances and progressive passes, suggesting that his influence may soon translate into more goals and assists as the team gels under Slot’s new tactical setup.
Within the club, patience remains the watchword. Team-mates and coaching staff reportedly view Wirtz as a "generational player" who simply needs time to adapt to the pace and physicality of English football. With the Champions League and domestic fixtures piling up, there is belief at Anfield that his recent upturn in form could mark the start of a more productive spell in red.
Getty Images SportFirst goal contribution sets playmaker up for more glory
Wirtz is expected to retain a key role in Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures, especially with Slot looking to settle on a consistent midfield shape. His next test comes in the Premier League, where the Reds are set to face Brentford before hosting Crystal Palace and Aston Villa at Anfield.
For the player himself, the challenge is now mental as much as physical. Ferdinand’s comments underline the weight of expectation that comes with being a nine-figure signing, but Wirtz’s composure and maturity have been widely praised by those around him. The German playmaker’s assists in Frankfurt could prove a vital turning point in silencing doubts about his form and reaffirming his status as one of Europe’s most exciting young stars.
