Liverpool’s record summer signing, Florian Wirtz, has been voted Germany’s Player of the Year for 2024/25 following his impressive season with Bayer Leverkusen.
The 22-year-old German midfielder, who joined Liverpool in June for a fee that could rise to £116 million, claimed 191 votes in the annual poll conducted by Kicker magazine and the Association of German Sports Journalists (VDS).
He finished ahead of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, and Bayern legend Thomas Müller, who recently moved to MLS side Vancouver.
“I can’t think of a more worthy successor than you,” former winner Toni Kroos said in praise of Wirtz.
In the women’s category, Germany internationals Giulia Gwinn and Ann-Katrin Berger shared the award after each received 608 votes.
Freiburg boss Julian Schuster was named Coach of the Year, having guided the club to fifth place in the Bundesliga and Europa League qualification in his debut season.
The Player of the Year award has been presented since 1960, with Franz Beckenbauer holding the record of four wins.
