The signing of Florian Wirtz by Liverpool was expected to be one of the blockbuster moves of the summer, but reality has fallen well short of expectations. The Reds shelled out €136 million for the 22-year-old German international, making him the most expensive transfer in Premier League history—until Alexander Isak joined the same club. However, his numbers have been underwhelming: just one assist in nine official matches.

A shaky start full of doubts

The latest example of his struggles came in Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League defeat against Galatasaray. Once again, Wirtz went unnoticed, piling up nearly 700 minutes this season without making any real impact. Although he started eight of those games, neither his stats nor his performances have been convincing.

The harshest criticism came from club legend Jamie Carragher, who didn’t hold back on CBS Sports: “He’s not at the level. He’s young, yes, but right now he’s a disaster. The team doesn’t play football, it looks like basketball. This isn’t just about one defeat, this has been happening since day one.” His words reflect the frustration of a fan base beginning to lose patience with the former Bayer Leverkusen star.

Even the stats—which place him as the Premier League player with the most chances created (21)—aren’t enough to soften the disappointment. The consensus is clear: Wirtz creates, but he doesn’t finish or assist, and his output is far from justifying the massive fee paid.

Media and fans delivering constant judgment

England’s press hasn’t been forgiving either. An analysis by The Athletic noted that Arne Slot has altered the midfield structure to accommodate the German, weakening the formula that once carried Liverpool to the league title. In the defeats against Crystal Palace (2-1) and Galatasaray, Wirtz started and ended up singled out.

The outlet highlighted his poor display: 14 turnovers, only 4 duels won out of 13 attempted, and just one successful dribble all game. A meager output for someone meant to be the new star at Anfield. “Wirtz is hurting Liverpool’s balance,” the report concluded, pointing to his lack of chemistry with teammates like Mac Allister, Gravenberch, and Szoboszlai.

Between adaptation and impatience

Beyond the numbers, the player’s personal situation also plays a role. This is the first time Wirtz has played outside Germany, forcing him to adapt to a new country, language, and style of football. The press calls for patience, but the Premier League’s demands—and the price tag—mean the spotlight is only getting harsher.

Time will tell whether Florian Wirtz can turn things around and live up to the enormous investment. For now, what was supposed to be a game-changing signing is starting to look more like a million-dollar mistake.