
The former Werkself player Jorginho, at Bayer 04 from 1989 to 1992, joined his teammate Bebeto in in 2000 in setting up the project Bola Pra Frente. Together with his two former clubs, Bayer 04 and FC Bayern, the organisation Stars4Kids now collects donations for this facility in Brazil's capital Rio de Janeiro.
Fans now have the chance, up to 2 July, to buy one of the shirts worn in the top match at auction via the platform United Charity and raise funds for a good cause.
The shirts to be auctioned:
HERE for the shirt worn by Lukas Hradecky
HERE for the shirt worn by Edmond Tapsoba
HERE for the shirt worn by Aleksandar Dragovic
HERE for the shirt worn by Sven Bender
HERE for the shirt worn by Wendell
HERE for the shirt worn by Julian Baumgartlinger
HERE for the shirt worn by Charles Aránguiz
HERE for the shirt worn by Kerem Demirbay
HERE for the shirt worn by Nadiem Amiri
HERE for the shirt worn by Paulinho
HERE for the shirt worn by Florian Wirtz
HERE for the shirt worn by Karim Bellarabi
HERE for the shirt worn by Moussa Diaby
HERE for the shirt worn by Leon Bailey
HERE for the shirt worn by Lucas Alario
Information on the project Bola Pra Frente:
‘Bola Pra Frente’, sport and education centre in the Rio de Janeiro district of Guadalupe helps young people to determine their own future and also find a more positive way of living away from drugs and criminality. It is one of the biggest social and sporting projects in the capital. The Brazil World Cup winner Jorginho, former Bayer 04 player, open the institute in 2000 alongside his teammate Bebeto.
Young people aged from 6 to 17 receive professional educational support from professional athletes, coaches, psychologists as well as social workers. The children and teenagers take part in the course is free of charge and have the opportunity to take up sporting activities and work on career-related projects. The centre offers language, mathematics, health, art, theatre, music, dance and computer courses.

In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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Black and Red talent development at the highest level – even off the pitch: Apprentices Jule Suermann, Leandra Bellia and Julia Niederheide have successfully completed their two- or three-year apprenticeships at the club. Bayer 04 honoured the trio at the BayArena on Tuesday.
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Following the summer break, most of the players are back in Leverkusen. While two Bayer 04 first-team players are still in action at the World Cup, the players present officially kicked off the new season with fitness assessments. At the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehabilitation and training centre, Robert Andrich, Edmond Tapsoba and the rest of the squad worked up quite a sweat in the sweltering summer heat. New signings Afonso Moreira and Kennet Eichhorn also successfully completed the day’s sessions alongside their new team-mates.
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The Werkself return tomorrow, Tuesday 14 July (from 11:00 CEST at the BayArena; live stream on bayer04.de, the Bayer 04 app and YouTube), with new head coach Carles Martínez leading his first training session as part of the Bayer 04 set-up. His coaching team comprises a mix of new and long-standing colleagues.
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico is underway. A total of eight Leverkusen players are taking part in the 23rd World Cup, with 48 teams in the tournament for the first time. Bayer04.de brings you all the latest from Werkself players at the World Cup.
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