Bayer 04 have brought through the next Germany international in Florian Wirtz. The 5 feet 9 midfielder recently made his debut for Germany under new coach Hansi Flick who was appointed in August.
His predecessor Joachim Löw was the Germany coach for 15 years – and he used to regularly include Black and Reds in his line-ups. During the Löw era, a total of 17 Werkself players wore the Germany shirt – including members of the current Bayer 04 squad such as Jonathan Tah, Karim Bellarabi and Nadiem Amiri as well as former players like honorary captain Lars Bender, Toni Kroos and Gonzalo Castro.
Wirtz is the 34th Leverkusen player to make his debut for Germany. The history of Bayer 04 and the German national side goes back to the 1980s.
The first Bayer 04 player to appear for the senior Germany team was Herbert Waas. The centre-forward wore the Leverkusen shirt for eight years – between 1982 and 1990. The first full international came in June 1983 under the then Germany coach Jupp Derwall.
Franz Beckenbauer, Berti Vogts, Erich Ribbeck and Rudi Völler also selected Werkself players regularly over the course of the following years. Here is the list of Germany debutants who were at Bayer 04 when they played their first full international:
2021: Florian Wirtz
2019: Nadiem Amiri
2018: Kai Havertz, Bernd Leno, Jonathan Tah, Julian Brandt
2016: Benjamin Henrichs
2014: Karim Bellarabi, Sidney Sam
2013: Philipp Wollscheid
2011: Lars Bender
2010: Toni Kroos, Stefan Reinartz
2008: René Adler
2007: Stefan Kießling, Gonzalo Castro, Simon Rolfes
2006: Manuel Friedrich
2003: Hanno Balitsch
2002: Thomas Brdaric
1999: Bernd Schneider
1998: Carsten Ramelow
1998: Paulo Rink, Stefan Beinlich
1997: Jens Nowotny
1992: Ulf Kirsten, Heiko Scholz, Christian Wörns
1990: Andreas Thom
1989: Alois Reinhardt
1988: Knut Reinhardt
1986: Thomas Hörster
1984: Christian Schreier
1983: Herbert Waas
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
Show more
Bayer 04 kick off the final phase of their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Head coach Carles Martínez’s team will take to the pitch at the City Ground today, Wednesday 12 August (kick-off: 8.45 pm/7.45 pm local time). Werkself-TV will broadcast the match live and in full exclusively for Bayer 04 members via livestream from 8.35 pm...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Argentina international Facundo Medina. The defender, who can play both at left-back and in a more central position in the back line, has signed a contract with Bayer 04 to 30 June 2031. The 1.84-metre-tall World Cup runner-up, who will wear the number 2 shirt, joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique de Marseille.
Show more
Villa Fiorito, River Plate, Ligue 1, the World Cup final and now Bayer 04: Facundo Medina’s life story so far has been shaped by special places, clubs, matches and names. One of them is Diego Maradona, who, like Medina, hailed from the south of Buenos Aires. Another is Exequiel Palacios, his former team-mate at River Plate, who was raving about Bayer 04 to him as recently as the World Cup in North America. Medina has now taken the plunge into the Bundesliga and, as an Argentine World Cup runner-up, has joined Bayer 04 from Olympique de Marseille this week. It is set to be the next successful chapter in his career. Leverkusen’s new number 2 brings with him a South American mentality and passion, a wealth of experience from many years in Ligue 1, and a fascinating story to the Rhineland – and to a club where the 1.84-metre-tall left-footed player will be reunited with Palacios and several other familiar faces.
Show more
Shortly after signing his contract with Bayer 04, new signing Facundo Medina spoke to Werkself.tv about his first impressions of the club, his expectations and his conversations with his Argentine compatriot Exequiel Palacios. The defender also reveals what the fans can look forward to. Welcome to Leverkusen, Facu!
Show more
