
"Thorsten Kirschbaum has great experience with a long time in the game and many appearances in the first and second divisions. He will have a positive effect on the training ground, sharpen everyone's awareness and he will push himself and his team-mates every day," said Bayer 04 sporting director Jonas Boldt. "We have three top-level keepers and are really well set up."
For Kirschbaum, the move to Europa League participants represents "a great opportunity at a top German club. Of course, it really appeals to me to be part of a team playing in Europe," declared Kirschbaum. "Everybody here can rely on me doing all I can to help Bayer 04 Leverkusen achieve their ambitious targets in three competitions."

Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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