The Wirtz saga - is it finally over?

Half of Europe wants him—there isn’t a big (or rather, wealthy) club that hasn’t had its eye on him for a while. However, Florian Wirtz isn’t rushing into anything; he’s not chasing astronomical contracts and is taking a very smart approach to his career. That’s why the news of a possible contract extension with Bayer Leverkusen didn’t come as a shock.

In fact, the word "possible" can now be rephrased—one of the best players in the world today is very close to extending his contract with Die Werkself, as the most important details have already been settled.

Of course, Leverkusen harbors no illusions that they will keep young player until 2028, which is the duration of the new agreement, but when you have such a gem in your squad, you do everything possible to hold onto him for as long as you can. An extra year is an extra year—and that’s no small thing.

The new contract will also benefit player, as it includes a release clause set to become active in 2026. Without it—or if things remained as they are (his current contract runs until 2027)—both the club and the player would face immense pressure as early as June.

Leverkusen would have to start considering a sale within the next six months to avoid the risk of entering the final year of his contract, while German forward would struggle to stay fully focused on his performances and development with vultures circling around him.

This way, all parties involved—including potential suitors—will have clarity on the situation.

So, what’s the situation exactly?

Leverkusen gets at least another year of Wirtz at the club, ensuring stability and maximizing his value. He, on the other hand, gains a clear exit strategy with a predefined release clause, allowing him to focus on his development without external distractions.

And for the top European clubs? They now know when and how much they’ll need to offer if they want to sign one of the most talented forward players in the world.

It’s a win-win-win scenario—for now.

Until the summer of 2026, the 21-year-old player will be practically untouchable under his new contract. With a 2 million euros salary increase (he will now earn just over 10 million euros per year), he should be more than satisfied—especially with the release clause reportedly set at 125 million euros, according to Bild.

'My wish is Wirtz in Bayern shirt'

It’s no secret that Bayern Munich has a carefully planned strategy to sign Leverkusen player. This winter transfer window was already sacrificed (they only signed backup goalkeeper Urbig), and a similar approach will be taken next summer and winter—only reinvesting funds from potential sales of Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, and Leon Goretzka. However, even with this plan in place, Bayern isn’t entirely confident about landing Wirtz.

"I’d say our chances are about 10 percent," admitted Uli Hoeness recently.

Bayern’s biggest advantage in this race might be Jamal Musiala, one of Wirtz’s closest friends. If the Bavarian club secures Musiala with a contract extension, it could strengthen their case for signing.

Can Bayer keep BOTH Wirtz and Alonso by 2026?

Meanwhile, Real Madrid is also lurking, particularly because they are eyeing Xabi Alonso as their future manager—a move that could help lure Leverkusen's child to the Bernabeu. Manchester City has also shown interest, but at this moment, their chances seem slim.