Bayer 04 have responded to the departure of striker Ivana Rudelic: "We wanted to do something in this position after Rudelic moved on to FC Bayern. We've succeeded by bringing in Mina Tanaka on loan," said Thomas Eichin, director of the Kurtekotten Performance Centre. And Linda Schöttler, general manager of Women's football at Bayer 04, is also happy with the transfer: "Being able to sign a six-time striker of the year from Japan is definitely something special. She is the first Japanese at our club. I'm happy that Mina Tanaka will gain her first experience abroad here with us."
The 26-year-old striker has already gained honours in Japan. In the Nadeshiko League, the top women's league in Japan, she was the top scorer in the years 2016 to 2019, was the striker of the year six times in succession, won the national Empress's Cup four times and also received the award as the best player in the league in 2018 and 2019. Tanaka has also established herself in the Japan team (39 caps, 16 goals) and she was in the side that won the Women’s AFC Asian Cup in 2018.
"I'm very happy and it fills me with pride to be able to play in Germany and for Bayer 04. I'm really glad to be able to take on this challenge. I've been able to follow the great development of the team in recent months and I can very much identify with the club. I will do all I can to help the team and the club achieve their targets," said the new signing looking forward to the coming months.
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.
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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...
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.
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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!
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Welcome back! On Tuesday morning, 11 August, Jarell Quansah and Exequiel Palacios – the last of the Werkself’s World Cup participants – returned to training. The two medallists and their team-mates are set to play their final two pre-season friendlies in England this week before the start of competitive fixtures.
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