
While the first team were working on the training ground at the BayArena under the guidance of head coach Peter Bosz on Monday, sporting director Simon Rolfes was in California on behalf of Bayer 04 Leverkusen. At the annual meeting of the management from different football and sports clubs, held at the Silicon Valley IT centre, the focus was on communication and the development of a modern approach to management. Rolfes was joined by Markus Krösche (RB Leipzig) and Hasan Salihamidzic (FC Bayern). And Rolfes' former team-mate Clemens Fritz was also there on behalf of Werder Bremen.
According to Bosz, all the recently injured players should be fit for the game against Schalke 04 (kick-off: 15.30 CET) on Saturday 7 December. That means Charles Aránguiz, Leon Bailey and Wendell – who were all taken off during the 2-1 victory in Munich – are all options for the clash with the Royal Blues.
Following the 2-1 away win at the reigning champions of Germany, three Leverkusen players were named in the kicker Team of the Day: The sports journal picked out double goalscorer Bailey, captain Lars Bender and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky. That was the second time the Finn has featured this season and for Bailey and Bender it was the first time. Only league leaders Borussia Mönchengladbach had greater representation on matchday 13 with five of their players making the kicker team. Hradecky and Bailey were also considered for the team of the day on the Sportschau TV programme. Six Bayer 04 protagonists made it into the BILD team of the day: Hradecky, Lars Bender, Aránguiz, Bailey, Kevin Volland plus coach Bosz.
Monday saw the end of auctions for Bayer 04 shirts with braille. With the shirts of Karim Bellarabi and Julian Baumgartlinger, the highest bid was €277 for each of them. The goalkeeper shirt of Niklas Lomb went for €280. That brings the total raised to €4,210. The donations raised will be used to help the visually impaired who attend Werkself home matches.
Konstantinos Stafylidis today celebrates his 26th birthday. The left back played for Bayer 04 from 2012 to 2015. During that time the Greek player went on loan to PAOK Saloniki and Fulham. Stafylidis only played competitive games for Bayer 04 in 2013/2014 with one first-team appearance and eight for the reserves (one goal). Bayer 04 wish him a very happy birthday.

At the end of the winter training camp in Portugal, the Bayer 04 Women convincingly mastered their friendly ahead of the start of the second half of the season. In the match against Swiss league leaders Servette FCCF, coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 3-0 at the Monte Gordo Sports Complex. Carlotta Wamser (4’), Vanessa Fudalla (18’) and Loreen Bender (53’) scored for Bayer 04, who have been preparing for the Rückrunde in the Algarve since last Saturday.
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In the first episode of the new interview series "A New Chapter", Werkself defender Jarell Quansah reflects on his first few months under the Cross and speaks about his journey from England to Leverkusen. Having come through the ranks at Liverpool, a new chapter began for Quansah in the summer at Bayer 04 — with new objectives, fresh challenges and much ambition. In the video, the centre-back speaks about his development as a player and person, about the courage to leave your own comfort zone, and about what it means for him to be part of an international team in a different country. Honest, reflective and full of motivation — just like the start of his Werkself career.
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Full focus on Hoffenheim: after the late postponement of the away match at Hamburger SV, the Werkself are looking forward. To get themselves in top shape for the key clash at top-six rivals TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 17 January (kick-off 15:30 CET), a number of players showed full commitment even on a day off - including two AFCON returnees...
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After Rio de Janeiro, it's off to Thuringia: This summer, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will prepare for the 2026/27 football season in Germany. While Brazil was the destination last year, the Werkself will now set up their training camp in Blankenhain, just outside Erfurt, from 1 to 7 August 2026.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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