
That has obviously happened by adhering to all regulations and after players and staff were provided with detailed information beforehand about all rules prescribed by the pandemic officer Dr Karl-Heinrich Dittmar in close cooperation with the local health authorities. Full team training will not happen in the coming days and this ruling initially applies up to Sunday, 5 April.
In the training sessions, the distance rule is maintained by the small groups training in different areas of the club site at different times (BayArena, weights room, speed court etc). Every player has to shower at home and communal events like breakfast and lunch have been cancelled.
The exemption from the state health ministry is based on professional athletes having the opportunity to be able to practice their profession. And that makes training under professional conditions an absolute necessity. On the other hand, the North Rhine-Westphalia authorities argue that training professional athletes attract great attention in public and that can have a negative effect on carrying out their profession. The ruling not only applies to professional footballers in North Rhine-Westphalia but also competitive athletes at the Olympic centres in the state.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.
Show more
Ken Izekor is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join third-tier side Alemannia Aachen with immediate effect. The 19-year-old centre-forward joined the club from Alemannia in 2018, and Izekor is now returning to his hometown.
Show more
The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
Show more
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.
Show more