How Currency Moves Could Cost Florian Wirtz €1.5M a Year — And What Agents Can Do About It

When the news broke that Florian Wirtz had signed for Liverpool in a club-record £116 million transfer, most of the football world focused on tactics, stats, and potential. But beneath the surface of that massive deal lies an even bigger, more silent factor: currency risk.

Because when deals this big move across borders, so does the money. And the difference between acting on time or not? It can cost millions.

That’s the real story here: how a shifting exchange rate could cost Wirtz up to €1.5 million per year in lost value — and what agents and clubs can do to protect against it.

The Transfer Fee: GBP to EUR Moves Fast

Liverpool paid a total package of £116 million, including an upfront £100 million, for Wirtz. As a German national, most of that money is being converted into euros—either by Bayer Leverkusen, agents, or the player himself.

Let’s take a look at the GBP/EUR exchange rate over the past two weeks:

• June 9: 1.1862

• June 16: 1.1761

• June 20: 1.1674

A 1.7% drop in less than two weeks.

On £100M, that’s a change in value from €118.62M to €116.74M. That’s €1.88M gone, purely due to market movement.

If the rate slides further towards the April low of 1.1445, or even down to 1.11 as seen in 2022, we’re talking about an extra €2.5M-€4M swing on the same figure.

What About Wirtz Himself?

Now let’s talk wages.

Reports suggest Wirtz could be earning around £250,000 per week at Liverpool. That’s approximately £13M per year, and a significant portion of that will likely end up back in Europe: supporting family, funding investments, or simply being held in euro accounts.

If GBP weakens further, the cost to him grows:

That’s a €900,000 difference in a single year, just based on how and when the currency is converted.

Multiply That Risk

Add in:

• Agent fees often paid in lump sums

• Endorsements from U.S., U.K., or Asian markets

• Image rights paid into various jurisdictions

Wirtz’s team could be managing flows in GBP, EUR, USD, HKD, and SGD — each with its own risks and opportunities. And let’s not forget that Liverpool are part-owned by U.S. entities, with a massive commercial footprint in Asia. That opens up the potential for further multi-currency flows tied to sponsorship, bonuses, and marketing income.

In these scenarios, it becomes less about FX being a footnote, and more about having a trusted currency strategy team working in the background.

SportsFX works with agents and athletes to manage exactly this kind of complexity, helping players and reps plan smarter when it comes to earnings, transfers, and global cash flows.

Are Clubs and Agents Planning This?

Big clubs hedge fuel, kit production, and even stadium construction. But many still don’t hedge currency on nine-figure deals.

Agents lock in player terms, but don’t always ensure the value sticks when moved across borders.

The smart ones are now treating FX as part of the negotiation process. Timing, planning, and currency strategy are no longer optional.

Real Strategy, Real Savings

If Liverpool had locked in a forward contract at 1.1862 when rumours first emerged, they might have saved nearly €2M.

If Wirtz locks in his salary conversions at the right time, he could avoid €1M in annual FX leakage.

For trusted advice and strategy around high-value deals and athlete income, SportsFX provides personalised solutions for international athletes and agents moving large sums.

Final Thought

These numbers aren’t hypothetical. They’re real. They’re happening today.

Whether you’re a club buying players or an agent managing elite talent, the lesson is clear:

“When money moves, currency risk becomes your hidden opponent.”

Want help with transfers or athlete wages over borders?

At SportsFX, we work with professional clubs, agents, and athletes to protect large sums through bank-beating rates, expert planning, and personalised currency strategies.

No fees. No stress. Just smart execution.

📞 Book a free strategy call today and find out what your current FX setup could be costing you.