Football debut at Anfield: Wirtz earns admiration and applause
In a thrilling pre-season friendly at Anfield, 15-year-old Florian Wirtz made his debut for Liverpool FC against Athletic Bilbao, a Spanish football club. The match ended in a 3-2 victory for Liverpool, with Wirtz playing the last 75 minutes of the second half[1][2].
Wirtz, who joined Liverpool FC in June 2025 for a British-record fee that could rise to £116 million, has quickly settled into his new team[1][3]. He has demonstrated his readiness to make an impact with impressive performances in pre-season friendlies, including scoring against Yokohama F. Marinos[3].
During his debut against Athletic Bilbao, Wirtz showcased his creativity in the final third, earning praise from Liverpool's coach, Arne Slot[1][2]. The English press, including The Mirror and Liverpool Echo, have also praised Wirtz's performance[1].
Wirtz, who was in competition with Bayern Munich for the transfer to Liverpool FC, is focused on learning the physical and intense nature of the Premier League and contributing by finding the right spaces on the pitch to create chances[1][2][3]. He is optimistic about helping Liverpool retain their Premier League title and adjusting to the league’s challenges[1][2].
The young talent has also formed promising combinations with new teammate Hugo Ekitike, pointing to good chemistry developing in Liverpool’s upgraded squad[2][3].
Despite the high expectations due to his record transfer fee and reputation, Wirtz's confident and smooth adaptation, as well as his ambitions aligned to Liverpool’s title ambitions, have left fans optimistic about his future at the club[1][2][3].
References: 1. The Mirror 2. Liverpool Echo 3. BBC Sport
Football training at Liverpool FC's facility was closed to the public due to the ongoing excitement surrounding 15-year-old Florian Wirtz's impressive pre-season performances. With his creativity in the final third and potential to create chances, Wirtz's closed training sessions are highly anticipated by soccer fans.
