Bayer 04 are currently planning for an attendance of 6,000 fans at the BayArena on Saturday in accordance with the coronavirus prevention order issued by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and a current infection rate of 17.7 (as at 23 September). If the critical rate of new infections does not exceed 35 per 100,000 population on Friday afternoon, 25 September, then the plan remains in place as agreed by the club and the city council. Failing that, the match will have to be played behind closed doors.
Fernando Carro, CEO at Bayer 04: “We are grateful for the cooperative and constructive approach shown to us by the mayor. In his role, he is responsible for all the citizens of the city and not just for football fans. As the organisers of this event, we have to accept a late postponement even though that does involve another economic risk for us. But we remain optimistic and hope we will be able to enjoy the Bundesliga atmosphere at the BayArena on Saturday for the first time in months.”
Leverkusen’s mayor Uwe Richrath: “After a long period of football games behind closed doors, it is important to me that Bayer 04 fans can finally return to the stadium. Unfortunately, the football stadiums will not be full again soon but it is a start. To avoid this being a one-off, we have to continue to adhere to the coronavirus prevention meaures. Bayer 04 fans can be proud of the discipline shown in the Covid-19 crisis and that includes people who have stood up for the less well-off.”
Health department head Alexander Lünenbach: “The management at Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH have presented a convincing hygiene concept for matches with crowds during the coronavirus pandemic. Provided we succeed in keeping the situation under control at the current level, there are no concerns about resuming matches with spectators. If, however, the number of cases significantly increases and a critical level is reached then the applicable coronavirus prevention measures will force us to act so that we are able to to deny admission of spectators to the stadium at short notice under those circumstances."
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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