Florian Wirtz Praises New Liverpool Teammate and Shares His First Impressions at Anfield

Florian Wirtz has highlighted a fellow Liverpool player who has particularly impressed him during the pre-season period. The club is preparing for the upcoming season with high expectations, competing in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace this Sunday.

The German midfielder, who joined Liverpool for a British record fee of £116 million on June 20, has already begun adapting to life at Anfield. Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Wirtz expressed admiration for the impact of new signing Hugo Ekitike, who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79 million last month.

“He’s a really good player,” Wirtz commented. “I enjoyed watching him at Frankfurt, and I was happy he chose to come here. In training, he has already integrated well, and we’ve had some good combinations in games. I really enjoy playing alongside him.”

Ekitike made his debut in a friendly victory over Yokohama and scored an assist in his subsequent appearance against Athletic Bilbao. Wirtz noted the benefits of arriving at the same time as other new players, which helps with team chemistry and adaptation.

“I came to Liverpool because I believed I could fit into this team immediately,” Wirtz added. “The experience has been positive, and I’m enjoying the process. I haven’t played in the Premier League yet, but I look forward to it. The league’s intensity, physicality, and speed are different from Germany, but I see that as an opportunity to improve.”

With the iconic No 7 shirt now his, previously worn by Luis Diaz, Wirtz arrives after playing a vital role in Bayer Leverkusen’s undefeated Bundesliga-winning season the previous year.

Wirtz is impressed by Hugo Ekitike, who signed for Liverpool last month.