Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has delivered a scathing verdict on Florian Wirtz’s move, insisting Wirtz wrong choice joining Liverpool has already become painfully clear only months into his Premier League career.
The Germany international arrived at Anfield in the summer as a marquee signing, with Liverpool paying around £100m to prise him away from Bayer Leverkusen.
Expectations were enormous. Yet halfway through the campaign, Wirtz is still searching for his first league goal, struggling to impose himself in a competition renowned for its pace, physicality and relentless intensity.
Speaking to Sky Deutschland, Hamann did not mince his words as he assessed the 21-year-old’s difficult start in England. According to the former Reds star, the decision to snub Bayern Munich in favour of Liverpool has slowed Wirtz’s development at a crucial stage of his career.
“Christmas is approaching and he still hasn’t scored a goal or decided a match,” Hamann said bluntly. “Football is played differently in the Premier League, and he’s had little to no impact there so far.”
Hamann argued that Wirtz’s natural qualities — close control, spatial awareness and creativity between the lines — are better suited to the Bundesliga, where technical midfielders often enjoy more time on the ball. At Bayern Munich, he believes, adaptation would have been seamless.
“If he had joined Bayern, he would have adapted easily,” Hamann explained. “Liverpool signed a player for €140 million hoping he could turn around a struggling team with one or two plays. He still hasn’t done that, and why would he now in January?”
Liverpool’s struggles this season have only intensified the scrutiny on Wirtz. Signed as a transformational figure, he was expected to be the creative spark capable of unlocking stubborn defences and deciding tight matches. Instead, his influence has been sporadic, often drifting in and out of games as the tempo overwhelms him.
Hamann went further, suggesting the pressure of the move may already be affecting Wirtz psychologically.
“When I watch him play, I sometimes get the feeling that he himself no longer believes in his potential,” he said. “That is dangerous for a young player.”
The former Bayern and Liverpool midfielder believes the choice Wirtz faced last summer was pivotal. On one side was Bayern Munich — a familiar league, a dominant domestic force, and a club built around German internationals. On the other was Liverpool — a club in transition, rebuilding after years of success, and competing in one of Europe’s most unforgiving leagues.
“Wirtz made the wrong choice in the summer when he was faced with the choice between Liverpool and Bayern Munich,” Hamann concluded.
Despite the criticism, many within Liverpool remain patient. Managerial staff have repeatedly pointed to Wirtz’s age and the difficulty of adjusting to English football. They argue that creativity cannot be forced and that confidence will return once he finds his rhythm and registers his first decisive contribution.
Former players and pundits, however, are divided. While some echo Hamann’s concerns, others insist that judging Wirtz after only a handful of months is premature. They point to previous imports who struggled initially before flourishing once settled.
Still, the narrative surrounding Wirtz wrong choice joining Liverpool is gaining momentum, particularly if his goal drought continues into the new year. For a player once described as the future of German football, the coming months could prove decisive — either silencing critics or reinforcing Hamann’s damning assessment.
What remains undeniable is that Wirtz’s move has become one of the most debated transfers of the season. Whether it ultimately proves a misstep or merely a slow-burning success will depend on how quickly he adapts to the Premier League’s unforgiving demands.
Read also: Bayern Munich vs Mainz: Dramatic 2–2 draw stuns Allianz Arena
