It was welcome back to #InternationalWerkself in Leverkusen as nine Bayer 04 first-team players returned to action in the morning after yesterday’s performance diagnostics and numerous medical checks. Seoane mostly had his team playing in various types of matches, although Robert Andrich & Co. also showed their ability in a heading course and some football tennis. Once the sporting side of things was done, the several fans who’d made the trip got the chance for autographs and photos from new signing Hlozek.
Goalkeeper Hradecky was out on the pitch the longest. The Werkself No.1 followed the team session with an individual programme together with goalkeeping coach David Thiel. There was then a second strength session inside the BayArena in the afternoon.
Friday’s session is again open for fans and starts at 10:30 CEST on the pitches at the BayArena. Seoane’s side then face their first friendly of pre-season on Saturday, 9 July when they take on third-division side Duisburg in Velbert at 15:30. Tickets are still available on the day at the ground from two hours before kick-off.
Joyeux anniversaire, Moussa Diaby! The Werkself forward turned 23 today. The France international has been at Leverkusen since 2019/20. Last season he made 42 appearances across all competitions, netting an impressive 17 goals and providing an excellent 14 assists.
Werkself Women’s goalkeeper Friederike Repohl was also celebrating today as she turned 28. The No.27 joined from Wolfsburg in 2021. Happy birthday and all the best for the coming season!
Bayer 04 have comfortably reached the DFB Pokal second round thanks to a 4–0 victory away to Liga 3 side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Patrik Schick put the Werkself ahead in the first 45 in the first competitive match under head coach Carles Martínez with debuts for new signings Miguel Gutiérrez, Afonso Moreira and Facundo Medina. After the break, Lucas Vázquez (47'), Nathan Tella (69') and Christian Kofane (79') also found the back of the net.
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Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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With the 2026/27 season set to kick off with a DFB Pokal tie away to SV Wehen Wiesbaden (Saturday, 22 August, 13:00 CEST), the squad numbers for two Werkself players have now been confirmed. New signing Afonso Moreira will wear the number 9, which he has already worn in pre-season friendlies. Lucas Vázquez is switching from number 21 to number 17 – the number he wore successfully at Real Madrid for many years.
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