Back
24.07.2021Bayer 04

New signing Bakker: 'The lads make me feel great'

Mitchel Bakker made his debut in a Werkself shirt in the goalless friendly against SC Freiburg at the end of the training camp in Salzburger Land. The 21-year-old summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain played for over an hour. In his first press interview, the left back, signed two weeks ago, shared his views on…
crop_20210722_JS_Trainingslager_Tag7_0478.jpg

…his own style of play: I'd describe myself as an attack-minded full-back. I love getting the long diagonal passes from the centre out onto my left flank and then taking the ball with me to provide a goal threat up front.

…areas of his game he wants to work on in the coming weeks and months: I'm still very young and I can learn a lot: I'm aware of that. I can see room for improvement in certain situations in defence – and in terms of heading ability. Clearing the ball at the back isn't a problem. But I think I can pose more of a threat in attack, for example at corners. I've never scored with my head. (He laughs)

…his last season at Paris Saint-Germain where he played 40 games for the top French club: I played a lot under Thomas Tuchel (head coach at PSG up to December 2020, ed.). I played alongside the best players in the world in Paris and was on the training ground with them every day. I was able to pick up a lot, for example from players like Thiago Silva. Now I'm happy to be here and I want to play my part in this club's success.

…his targets with and at Bayer 04: I want to win every game if possible and play for the club in the Champions League. My aim is to be on the pitch week by week and help the team as much as I can.

 

20210723_JS_Trainingslager_Tag8_B04_SCF_1055.jpg

…his impression of Germany's top flight: The Bundesliga is a great league with a higher intensity than in France. Every game is hard-fought and there's plenty of competition. I'm really looking forward to finally getting started in a few weeks time.

…the team structure within the Werkself : The first days were great fun. Everybody made it as easy as possible for me and explained how things work. I know Daley (Sinkgraven, ed.) from my time at Ajax and I played alongside Jeremie (Frimpong) in the youth national team. They helped me a lot as well. All the lads make me feel great and I can hardly wait to be on the pitch with them in the Bundesliga.

 

Related News

Jarell Quansah
Bayer 04 - 03.02.2026

Vote now for Quansah as BL Rookie of the Month for January

The German Football League (DFL) has announced the three candidates for the title of Bundesliga Rookie of the Month for January. That includes Werkself player Jarell Quansah. Fans of Bayer 04 can vote for their favourite on the Bundesliga app from now until Thursday, 5 January (23:59 CET).

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #B04FCSP Pokal
DFB-Pokal - 03.02.2026

Matchday news #B04FCSP: DFB Pokal quarter-final against battling St. Pauli

As in the past two years, the Werkself are aiming to come out on top in the DFB Pokal quarter-finals on Tuesday night, 3 February (kick-off: 20:45 CET). With eleven home games in a row without defeat against the Kiezkicker, the Black and Reds go into the floodlit match in confident mood. But the Pokal, as is often said, has its own magic and the team from the Millerntor has much more to offer than the current 17th place in the Bundesliga would suggest. After all, Bayer 04 are one of the big German teams the combative Hamburgers have already made life difficult for this season. The matchday news.

Show more
Landwehr-Cousins
eSports - 03.02.2026

#B04eSports: Penalty shoot-out, victory against club champions, semi-final exit - Top four in Showdown 4

The Leverkusen eSports team picked up valuable points and made up ground in the overall table with a top four finish in the offline round in Showdown 4 in the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. In the round of 16, Showdown 1 winners Bayer 04 defeated the unbeaten runners-up in the previous round, VfL Bochum, in a thrilling penalty shoot-out. The Landwehr cousins, themselves the current club runners-up, then beat the current club champions and Showdown 3 winners RB Leipzig. It was not until the semi-finals that they lost out to the eventual showdown winners Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Show more
Linda Schöttler, Rafaela Borggräfe und Thomas Eichin
Women - 03.02.2026

Keeper Rafaela Borggräfe joins Bayer 04 on loan from Liverpool

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have strengthened the goalkeeper position for the second half of the season. Germany keeper Rafaela Borggräfe has joined the Werkself on loan from English FA Women's Super League (WSL) club Liverpool until the end of the season.

Show more
Ken Izekor
Bayer 04 - 02.02.2026

Ken Izekor joins Eintracht Braunschweig on loan

Bayer 04 have agreed a loan move for U19s striker Ken Izekor to join Bundesliga 2 club Eintracht Braunschweig on loan for the rest of the 2025/26 season.

Show more