Patrick Helmes scored 28 goals in 57 Bundesliga games for Bayer 04 between 2008 and 2011. After injury forced him to end his playing career in 2015, the central striker became a coach. Helmes returned to Leverkusen as youth coach in 2018 to train the U15s. The now 36-year-old is moving on to the Alps this summer. Just outside Vienna, Helmes, who also played for Germany during his time at the Werkself (23 caps), will be assistant to head coach Zvonimir Soldo as well as youth coach for the Austrian top-flight club FC Flyeralarm Admira.
On Saturday, 11 July, Bayer 04 distributed the T-shirts placed on the seats at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin for the DFB Cup final against FC Bayern free of charge to 3,500 fans at the BayArena via a drive-in system. Over 12,000 shirts were handed out and, in return, the supporters donated the considerable sum of €6,516.35 to the Reuschenberg Wildlife Park in Leverkusen. Bayer 04 would like to thank everyone who donated.
The German Football Association (DFB) have announced the first details for next seasons DFB Cup. The draw for the first round (11 to 14 September) will be made on 26 July, "to enable amateur clubs to make detailed plans for the venues," said the DFB. The draw will be broadcast live on ARD.
Participants from the state associations will not be known by the time of the draw as the majority of the teams in the amateur sector remain to be confirmed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The state finals day for the amateurs is set for 22 August. By the middle of August, all of the participating amateur clubs must inform the DFB of possible home venues for the first round ties and also present agreed hygiene protocols to the relevant authorities.
DFB Cup dates 2020/21:
First round: 11 to 14 September
Second round: 22/23 December
Round of 16: 2/3 February 2021
Quarter-finals: 2/3 March 2021
Semi-finals: 1/2 May 2021 (subject to later confirmation)
Final: 13 May 2021
After the Bundesliga restart, Bayer 04 reacted in the area of catering to the changed circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. That involved the Bundesliga club – based on the hygiene protocol of the DFL – supplying the few journalists permitted access to the BayArena with lunch packages, which has inspired the Süddeutsche Zeitung to compose a short message of praise. "At Leverkusen, the bags were so full they could have fed a family of four," wrote the SZ. "There were sandwiches, rissoles, fruit, chocolate bars and a biscuit that was as big as a cake."
The route for the Werkself to a possible Europa League final in Cologne has been known since Friday, 10 July. UEFA completed the draw in Nyon in Switzerland. After the 3-1 away win in the Round of 16 first leg at Glasgow Rangers, Bayer 04 are in with a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals. The opponents would be Getafe or Inter Milan. The two top South European teams are completing their Round of 16 tie in one game as the first leg in March fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover: Both Getafe (19.30 CET at Deportivo Alavés) as well as Inter (21.45 CET against Torino) are playing on Monday night – both games are live on DAZN. Assessing the opposition can begin…
This cheerful soul is celebrating his birthday: The former Leverkusen youth player and Werkself first teamer Danny da Costa is 27 years old today (Monday). Born in Neuss, he signed for Bayer 04 as a youth player from Winfriedia Mülheim. In 2012, he went out on loan to FC Ingolstadt before signing a permanent deal with the club from Upper Bavaria in 2014. After playing for Leverkusen again in 2016/17, da Costa has been at Eintracht Frankfurt for the past three years. Bayer 04 wish Danny a very happy birthday!
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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