Jurgen Klopp has agreed the “key points” of a contract to take over as Germany’s head coach, the German Football Federation (DFB) announced on Saturday.

Germany are searching for a new boss after the departure of Julian Nagelsmann, which came following a surprise round-of-32 elimination from the World Cup.

The four-time champions were beaten by Paraguay on penalties after a 1-1 draw, their first-ever shoot-out defeat at the World Cup in five attempts. 

Klopp quickly emerged as the favourite for the role after saying he was “recharged” and ready to return to the dugout, two years on from his Liverpool exit.

Klopp has served as Red Bull’s Head of Global Football since October 2024, but he has now agreed to take charge of the national team, subject to a deal being struck between the DFB and his current employers.

A statement issued by the DFB read: “DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and DFB Vice-President Hans-Joachim Watzke held their first intensive talks with Jurgen Klopp yesterday in New York, about the possible takeover of the office of national coach. 

“During the constructive exchange, an agreement was reached on essential key points of a potential contract.

“The talks will continue in the coming week. Both sides are confident that the negotiations – subject to an agreement with Klopp’s current employer, Red Bull – can ultimately be concluded successfully.”

Throughout almost nine years in charge of Liverpool, Klopp won eight pieces of silverware, including the club’s first Champions League crown since 2005 and their first domestic league title in the Premier League era, in 2019-20.

Klopp oversaw 334 Premier League games, the most of any manager in the Reds’ history. He won 209 of those (D78 L47) for a 63% win rate – the highest of any Liverpool boss in the competition – while his teams scored 714 goals and conceded 331 in that time.

Klopp also won back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund in 2010-11 and 2011-12 and led them to the 2012-13 Champions League final, which they lost to Bayern Munich.

He had been tentatively linked with Bayern and Real Madrid after quitting Liverpool, though he rubbished those rumours on each occasion.

When a deal with the DFB is finalised, Klopp’s first task will be to oversee Germany’s 2026-27 Nations League campaign, with the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia their opponents in Group A2. 

His attention will then turn towards a Euro 2028 qualifying campaign, and that tournament could see him return to the city of Liverpool, with games being held at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.