“These two agreements again demonstrates our desire to retain key players as a cornerstone of a success-oriented and competitive team,” declared CEO Michael Schade. “After being able to strengthen our squad we wanted to set down another marker with these two important players.”
For sporting director Rudi Völler the contract extensions with Bellarabi and Wendell are a clear signal for the future development at Bayer 04: “Both had offers from financially-strong clubs but they were always key players in our plans,” said Völler. “We’re happy we were able to convince Karim and Wendell of our plans and that they feel so committed to Bayer 04. They are players with extraordinary ability and excellent characters; they are very good for our team.”
Bellarabi: “The best is still to come”
Bellarabi’s development into a regular first choice and one of the best Bundesliga players in his position is closely related to the special relationship with the sporting management and the coach Roger Schmidt in particular. “I always felt I was relied on especially when the going got tough. I became an international here at Leverkusen and I’ve got the chance here to get myself noticed for Germany again,” said Bellarabi. “I feel the best is still to come for us as a team and I definitely want to be part of it.”
And Wendell sees the possibility of his personal development at the Werkself: “I really feel at home in this team and I think we can achieve things on the pitch in the future. Bayer 04 is a club where I can regularly play in the Champions League,” said the 23-year-old who wants to be in the running for the Brazil squad. “I’ve got everything a player could want here.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will to have manage without forward Eliesse Ben Seghir. The Morocco international suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle before the AFCON final defeat against Senegal (0-1 a.e.t.).
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The VBL Club Championship 2025/26 continues. Tonight, 27 January (live on Twitch and on the Bayer 04 app from 18:00 CET), the Leverkusen eSports team will play the remaining three matches in the online preliminary round of Showdown Four. They are up against FC Kaiserslautern, SC Freiburg and the current club champions and Showdown Three winners RB Leipzig, with whom Bayer 04, club runners-up and Showdown One winners, shared some memorable moments, especially last year. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Jonas Omlin. Bayer 04 have signed the 32-year-old goalkeeper on loan from Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach until the end of the season. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes described the Swiss shot stopper, signed by the Werkself in reaction to the long-term absence of first choice keeper Mark Flekken, as an "internationally experienced keeper." Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the new signing, who will wear the number 18 jersey.
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Under the motto ‘Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26’, Bayer 04 are turning this season's UEFA Champions League season into a festival. In addition to a Spotify playlist that fans can use to get in the mood for the Champions League nights, there is also a tour pass with stickers for the respective UCL matches exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members. These could be picked up in the respective weeks of the matches. The sticker for the final clash in the league phase (Villarreal, 28 January, 21:00 CET) is now available at the Fanwelt. The competition for all diligent sticker collectors is also now open. Read on for further information.
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