Referee Tobias Stieler is in charge of the Rhine derby between FC Köln and the Werkself on Wednesday 16 December (kick-off: 20.30 CET/live on Sky and on Werks11 Radio). The lawyer from Hamburg has refereed 20 games involving the Black and Reds to date with Bayer 04 winning 16 of them (two draws). Stieler showed 20 yellow cards in those games and sent one Werkself player off for two yellow card offences.
A successful start for the 'Bayer 04 surgery': Virtual meetings have become commonplace since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In these times where face-to-face meetings with more than one person in a room are to be avoided, this is a helpful alternative – which the Bayer 04 fan liaison section also sees as important. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, and Meinolf Sprink (director of fans/community) recently held a remote discussion with Werkself fans on current issues relating to Bayer 04. In the coming months there will be other surgeries with Werkself supporters, different hosts and different subjects.
For the thirteenth time, the Leverkusen community foundation have carried out their 'Sterntaler' event. The aim is to provide joy to children and aged persons in the city. Staff and players from Bayer 04 have again taken part in the project this year and fulfilled the wishes of 134 Sterntaler. "It's a matter close to our hearts every year and it goes without saying that we are happy to participate in the 'Sterntaler' event to show our commitment to the local community," said Meinolf Sprink, director of fans/community at Bayer 04.
As announced by the German Football League (DFL) on Wednesday, the transfer window in Germany will be open from 2 January to 1 February. Winter signings can only be played from matchday 15 (8 to 11 January). The DFL will only issue a players permit if the relevant player can demonstrate they have the required number of negative coronavirus tests according to the pandemic level.
The Werkself return in the New Year on Saturday 2 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET) with a Bundesliga away fixture at Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday 14.
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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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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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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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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