Bayer 04 fans, who want to get a first impression of the new squad, can drop by at the BayArena. The first session at 10.00 CET on Tuesday morning will see at least nine first team players on the training ground. The only truly new player will be Kevin Volland signed from Hoffenheim with great expectations on the part of Bayer 04. Levin Öztunali and Danny da Costa return after loan periods at Werder Bremen and Ingolstadt respectively looking to establish themselves in the Werkself squad and goalkeeper Niklas Lomb is another returnee.
Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah will be the last two to join the Bayer 04 pre-season after earning a well deserved summer break following Germany’s exit from Euro 2016 in the semi-final defeat against France. They belong to a group of nine players who return late due to commitments at the Euros or the Copa America: Chicharito, Charles Aránguiz, Hakan Calhanoglu, Admir Mehmedi, Julian Baumgartlinger, Ramazan Özcan and Tin Jedvaj. Benjamin Henrichs and Lukas Boeder are away with the Germany Under 19 side competing at the European Championships on home soil.
Another major event is also on the horizon. Germany coach Horst Hrubesch is set to announce his squad for the Olympic Games in Rio next week. The football tournament in Brazil from 4 to 20 August with Germany in Group C alongside Mexico, South Korea and Fiji. Bayer 04 candidates for inclusion in the Germany squad are Julian Brandt, Levin Öztunali and possibly Lars Bender – the Werkself captain in one of three players over the age of 23. Left back Wendell misses out on a slot in the Brazil team due to ongoing rehab following his ankle ligament injury.
First friendly on Friday
Following the performance tests on Monday head coach Roger Schmidt will lead training sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10.00 and 16.00 each day. There will be a morning training session on Friday ahead of the first friendly against SC Verl (19.00 CET) as part of the short training camp in Marienfeld from 15 to 17 July.
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
Bayer 04 start the 2026/27 season away to third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Ahead of the DFB Pokal tie on Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez spoke at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The topics: anticipation, passion, the fans’ support – and the captaincy for the new season.
Show more
