Latest news with #Wirtz
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Leverkusen fans' nickname for Wirtz speaks volumes after £116m Liverpool move
Florian Wirtz completed his move to Liverpool last week from Bayer Leverkusen and supporters of the Bundesliga giants have given an insight into what Reds fans can expect Florian Wirtz has made a blockbuster move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen, with the 22-year-old sealing the deal for an initial £100m rising to £116m and putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Anfield. Wirtz always had his heart set on a switch to Anfield, leading to Liverpool securing a transfer fee below Leverkusen's £126m asking price. The compromise was struck last week, much to the delight of the Reds. Labelled as one of the most exciting talents in European football, Wirtz was hotly pursued by the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City before opting for the Merseyside club. SPORT BILD journalist Phillip Arens shared his enthusiasm with The Times, telling Liverpool fans: "Dear Liverpool fans, congratulations for having Florian Wirtz at Anfield. You'll love him and he'll take your hearts by storm. "He is worth every single pound. Trust me. Wirtz and Liverpool will be a perfect match. I followed him as a reporter at Bayer Leverkusen from his first days when he was 16 years old in 2020.", reports the Liverpool Echo. Arens also recounted: "When the speaker at the BayArena announced the Bayer squad, the fans screamed the word 'Fussballgott' after only one player - Wirtz. Calling a player 'god of football' is a typically German way of showing love and respect." Upon finalising his transfer, Wirtz himself expressed his ambitions, stating that he didn't come to Anfield just 'to have fun', but believes it's the ideal place for him to develop and achieve success. The player stated: "I just thought that it was the right point in my career to make the next step and, of course, I wanted to get to a club that is from the top three in the world, and Liverpool was one of them. "The people say I'm a creative player and I hope I can bring this creativity to the team and also the joy on the pitch. I try to make assists, goals and run for the team and defend. I hope I can just make the team one step better." He explained that his decision to join Liverpool was influenced by the club's people, vision, and offerings, saying: "I just saw myself in the best hands in Liverpool. I was really convinced by the people here, by the idea, and everything the club offers me was really good. It was not that easy for me, for sure, because I am a German player. I play for the Germany national team." He continued, "So it was not easy for me to decide, but the talks with the coach [ Arne Slot ] and Richard [Hughes, sporting director] and everybody were, from the very first time, so good and it just kept going like this." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
David Ornstein: Liverpool's Smart Moves Could Match 2018 Impact
Liverpool's Transfer Strategy Earns Praise from Ornstein as Slot Builds a Contender Patience Pays Off for Liverpool in Market Masterclass Liverpool's approach to the transfer window has often been defined by measured ambition rather than scattergun spending. According to a recent episode of The Athletic FC Podcast, David Ornstein – widely regarded as one of the most credible voices in football journalism – praised the Reds' calculated strategy, highlighting how their prudent planning is paying off. 'Liverpool have kept their powder dry in terms of available cash to spend in recent markets,' Ornstein explained. That patience has now yielded a series of calculated moves that could reshape the Reds' squad for years to come. Advertisement After spending last summer relatively quietly – with only Federico Chiesa arriving on a budget deal – Liverpool have entered this window with both financial flexibility and clear intent. Their headline-grabbing signing of Florian Wirtz, who many believe is the world's premier number 10 at just 22 years old, reflects a club operating with confidence and vision. Echoes of Van Dijk in Wirtz Arrival Ornstein didn't hesitate to draw comparisons between the Wirtz transfer and the game-changing arrival of Virgil van Dijk in 2018. 'They took a lot of criticism and face pressure at the time last summer when Martin Zubimendi was the main target, they didn't land him and they retained the courage of their convictions, that, unless the right player was available, they wouldn't do anything,' said Ornstein. Advertisement This strategy mirrors the van Dijk saga, when Liverpool were patient in their pursuit and only moved when the time was right. 'They've shown that in the past, like when they went for Virgil van Dijk, it didn't happen in the summer, it then became a possibility in January, [they] executed it then and to devastating effect.' A Squad Blending Youth and Experience Liverpool are now positioned as early favourites for the Premier League title, and that's no accident. With a mix of experience – including the ever-influential Van Dijk – and youth, like Wirtz and Gravenberch, Slot's Liverpool are a team balanced on the edge of greatness. The confirmed addition of Milos Kerkez strengthens their options at left-back, offering depth and a long-term prospect in the mould of previous smart signings. The squad, now evolving quickly under Slot, blends talent at all stages of development. Slot's First Real Statement of Intent This transfer window marks Arne Slot's first full opportunity to shape the team in his image, and the signs are already promising. Liverpool aren't just spending for the sake of it – they're investing in players who match their style, values, and long-term ambition. Advertisement 'Nobody seems to do that better than Liverpool,' Ornstein concluded. And based on this summer's moves, it's hard to argue otherwise. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis Liverpool fans will likely read David Ornstein's comments with a sense of vindication. Over the past few years, there has been frustration at the club's refusal to dive headfirst into high-profile bidding wars, especially when rivals like Chelsea, Arsenal & Manchester City were spending heavily. But this strategy now seems to be bearing fruit. The arrival of Florian Wirtz represents more than just a marquee signing – it symbolises the club's faith in long-term planning and squad evolution. Supporters will be encouraged by the fact that the club didn't panic when they missed out on Zubimendi last summer, instead waiting for the right fit. That kind of restraint and vision feels very much what the club was built on as the majority of signings were successes. Advertisement There's also a sense of excitement around the balance in the squad. With young stars like Wirtz, and now Kerkez joining established leaders like Salah, Alisson and Van Dijk, fans are beginning to dream again – not just about domestic dominance, but about making another deep Champions League run. For a fanbase that has always valued identity and ethos as much as silverware, Liverpool's latest moves seem to strike the perfect balance. If Slot can harness this blend of experience and youth, supporters might soon be witnessing the dawn of another special era at Anfield.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
NEP Europe and Wirtz Film & Experience Appointed Host Broadcasters for NATO Summit 2025 in The Hague
THE HAGUE, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NEP Group, the leading global media services provider, today announced that its Dutch branch of NEP Europe in partnership with Wirtz Film & Experience were commissioned by the Dutch government to provide full host broadcasting services for the 2025 NATO Summit, held June 24-25 in The Hague. The audiovisual capture and distribution of all official summit activities were carried out by an integrated team from both media partners, providing live coverage of the international event which brought together world leaders, ministers, and senior delegates from all 32 member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Following over a year of intensive preparation, technical coordination, and content development, a temporary media center in The Hague became operational on Sunday, June 22. From a specially designed Master Control Room (MCR), live content was produced throughout the summit and made available worldwide to accredited media organizations. More than 80 cameras, including both standard and remotely operated ones, along with eight fully-equipped directing units were deployed throughout the event. A multidisciplinary team of directors, technicians, producers, and editors from NEP and Wirtz collaborated closely to portray the summit proceedings in a professional, neutral, and balanced manner. Arjan van Westerloo, Executive Vice President of NEP Europe, said: 'Providing the host broadcasting for an international summit such as the NATO Summit demands maximum reliability, editorial diligence, and technical precision. Thanks to our close collaboration with Wirtz and the commitment of our experienced team, we were able to deliver all the required images in high quality, in real time, and with complete neutrality to the international press.' Jan-Willem Wirtz, Creative Director at Wirtz Film & Experience, said: 'This production was unique in many respects. Not just because of its scale and international character, but especially because of the extraordinary level of precision required in both preparation and execution. The security demands and confidentiality surrounding this project were extremely high. Over a year before the summit, we began preparations in close coordination with government services, security agencies, and NATO itself. Every detail—from directing plans to studio positioning and content creation—had to be flawless. The fact that we were able to execute this as a team with such precision makes us incredibly proud.' Pim Koster, Technical Broadcast Producer for the NATO Summit 2025, said: 'The technical complexity of this production was unprecedented. We worked across multiple locations, with hundreds of connections and a completely temporary infrastructure, all within a highly secured environment. There was hardly any room for rehearsals or margin for error, but when the moment arrived, every shot had to be right. Thanks to the craftsmanship, flexibility, and dedication of the Wirtz and NEP teams, we delivered a production we can genuinely be proud of.' The host broadcasting included content production of: Arrivals of world leaders at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport The official opening of the summit in The Hague The state banquet at Huis ten Bosch Palace, hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima Formal plenary meetings and bilateral encounters All press moments and side events in and around the World Forum Additionally, NEP and Wirtz were responsible for the audiovisual production of over 100 hours of content, including: All screen content within the World Forum The NATO Public Forum, including editorial and content support Six live talk shows featuring international guests and experts Multistream distribution, live ingest & playout, and multilingual subtitling Media services deployed include: More than 80 cameras (remote and manually operated) Over 500 man-days of staffing 30 kilometers of cabling 8 directing units, including 3 outside broadcast trucks Temporary Master Control Room (MCR) Multiple mobile studio environments Live ingest, playout, and multistream distribution NEP's LiveCenter as the central connectivity hub Multilingual subtitling and content management systems 50+ pool feed positions in the press center With this assignment, NEP Europe and Wirtz Film & Experience reaffirm their status as leading partners for large-scale international events, with a focus on reliability, innovation, and high-quality content delivery. Visit to learn more about NEP's media services and connected production solutions. About NEP NEP is the world's most trusted media services partner for live sports and entertainment. With a global network of experts, cutting-edge technology, and an expansive portfolio of customer-driven, innovative solutions, we empower our customers to tell their stories in breakthrough ways. With operations in 25 countries, we've supported thousands of major productions and events on every continent with excellence and reliability. See how we bring content to life at
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florian Wirtz reveals correct pronunciation of name in message to Liverpool fans
Florian Wirtz is Liverpool's new record signing, and could ultimately become the English record transfer. So we should probably learn how to say his name. Gone are the days when commentators would just wing it. For an eight-letter name, the number of different pronounciations we got of Dirk Kuyt was quite staggering — a problem that looked for a time as though it may be returning to Anfield, before Arne Slot turned to Giovanni van Bronckhorst rather than the former Liverpool star as his new assistant. Advertisement Quite rightly, there is now a league-wide effort to ensure that people are having their names pronounced correctly. At the start of each season, the Premier League releases a video where all of the players say their own names. READ MORE: Milos Kerkez transfer delay explained after Liverpool medical as 'issue' prevents announcement READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Viktor Gyokeres stance, Milos Kerkez medical, Marc Guehi latest That can appear quite humorous for players like Dan Burn or Harvey Elliott, where no English speakers would ever encounter any issues. But the division has long since attracted international appeal, and it's useful for all fans to have a guide. Advertisement As part of his signing day video, Liverpool staff asked Wirtz what fans should call him. He shared the correct pronounciation, and it turns out some people have been getting it slightly wrong. His first name is more or less as expected. There's perhaps slightly more emphasis on the final syllable than would be the case in English — "Flori-Ann" rather than "Flori-un" — but it's primarily the surname that may have been tripping people up. A common pronounciation has been "Vurtz". In fact, it's subtly different — although saying it in a Scouse accent gets you most of the way there, so plenty of local fans are probably already on the right track! Wirtz has confirmed that the correct way to say his name is actually "Veertz". It's an "ee" sound, not an "ur". Florian Wirtz admiring Liverpool's trophy cabinet. -Credit:Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images It's good to have that cleared up ahead of the new season. The hope will be that commentators have plenty of cause to use it, after he found the net 10 times and registered 13 assists in the Bundesliga last season. Advertisement It will be interesting to see how Slot intends to deploy him. Wirtz was clearly keen on the vision sold to him, picking Liverpool over other suitors including Bayern Munich and Manchester City, but we won't know for sure until preseason gets underway. The likely departure of Darwin Nunez could open up a spot through the middle, where Wirtz spent some of his time with Bayer Leverkusen. Xabi Alonso often liked to use him there against the biggest opponents. But there's every chance that Nunez would be replaced up front by another new signing. And in any case, Wirtz's creativity might be better deployed further back now that Trent Alexander-Arnold has left, potentially necessitating a midfield reshuffle to accommodate him in the role currently fulfilled by Dominik Szoboszlai. The left flank is another possibility, although Liverpool's insistence that it does not want to sell Luis Diaz would suggest otherwise. Likewise, there are no indications that Cody Gakpo will be sold, despite interest from Bayern Munich. Wherever he plays, the hope is that Wirtz will have a huge impact on Liverpool. And now that he has told us how to say it, there are no excuses to get his name wrong.
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Bayer Leverkusen Target Leicester's Bilal El Khannouss
Rabat — Moroccan international and Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss is currently under Bayer Leverkusen's radar as they look to fill the void left by Florian Wirtz's departure to Liverpool. The 21-year-old Moroccan international finds himself in an uncertain position after Leicester's relegation to the Championship following their 18th-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League season. Despite the Foxes' struggles, El Khannouss showed promise during his debut campaign in English football. Leicester signed El Khannouss from Belgian club Genk last summer for £21 million. During his 32 Premier League appearances, the midfielder showed prowess, delivering solid performances despite his team's disappointing results and scoring two goals and three assists. Now, Leverkusen sees an opportunity. The German club recently sold their star playmaker Wirtz to Liverpool for a massive £116 million, leaving them with both the funds and the need to find a creative spark for their midfield. According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Leverkusen has already made contact regarding El Khannouss' terms. The Bundesliga runners-up had tracked the young midfielder during his time at Genk and now view this summer as the perfect moment to make their move. Manager Erik ten Hag wants to bring El Khannouss to the BayArena, where he would link up with fellow Moroccan Amine Adli. The club sees the Leicester man as the ideal candidate to help maintain their creative output following significant squad changes. Leverkusen won't have a clear path to El Khannouss, though. Wolverhampton Wanderers have also shown interest, reportedly considering him as a potential replacement for Matheus Cunha. The transfer looks feasible from a financial standpoint. Reports suggest El Khannouss has a release clause worth £22 million in his Leicester contract. For Leverkusen, flush with cash from the Wirtz sale, meeting that figure shouldn't present major obstacles. El Khannouss faces a crucial decision about his future. He can either help Leicester bounce back to the Premier League or take the next step in his career with a move to Germany's top flight. The Atlas Lion has already proven he can compete at the highest level during his Premier League stint. A switch to Leverkusen would offer him the chance to play Champions League football and continue his development under ten Hag's guidance. With Leicester's relegation confirmed and Leverkusen's genuine interest, this transfer story could develop quickly as the summer window progresses.
