When Afonso Moreira signed his contract at the BayArena, the “fast, agile and skilful forward” (managing director sport Simon Rolfes) became the first Portuguese player at Bayer 04.
Last season, Moreira – a new signing from Sporting CP B team – played for Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa League. In total, he scored eight goals and provided eleven assists in 37 appearances. Among players aged 21 and under, only Désiré Doué of Paris Saint-Germain was a more prolific scorer across all competitions in Ligue 1.
In the French league, the 1.76-metre-tall Moreira also came up against his new head coach at Bayer 04: In the two matches between Lyon and FC Toulouse, managed by Carles Martínez, Toulouse emerged victorious on each occasion (2–1, 2–1). In their most recent encounter in early May – Martínez’s final home match as the Toulouse head coach – Moreira played the full 90 minutes.
His successful year at Lyon was Moreira’s first spell away from his home country. Born in Lamego, in the Portuguese interior, he began playing football at his local club, Cracks Clube de Lamego. In 2017, at the age of twelve, Moreira followed the call from one of the world’s best academies and moved to Sporting CP. In the capital, 350 kilometres away, he progressed through all the youth teams – and finally signed his first professional contract in 2021.
Moreira made his top-flight debut for Sporting in August 2023 at the age of 18 under manager Ruben Amorim. In the second half of the season, he went out on a six-month loan to top-flight rivals Gil Vicente FC. At the end of the 2023/24 season, Sporting – who Moreira played for in the first half of the season – were crowned champions of Portugal. During the 2024/25 campaign, when Sporting celebrated not only another league title but also lifted the Taca de Portugal, his sporting home remained the reserve side in the third division, despite brief appearances for the first team – including in the UEFA Champions League. At the end of the season, Moreira helped this team secure promotion to the second division.
Following this success, Lyon signed him for their first team. After a few substitute appearances and his debut goal in Ligue 1, Moreira became an indispensable part of the Lyon side from matchday 10 onwards and he was in the starting XI in 18 of the next 20 league matches until the end of the season.
Across all competitions, as mentioned, he made a total of 37 appearances, scoring eight goals and providing eleven assists. Moreira seems set to ensure the first chapter in the history of Portuguese players at Bayer 04 gets off to a successful start…
Following the signing of his contract with Bayer 04, Moreira spoke about his decision to join Leverkusen, his excitement at working with head coach Carles Martínez, his commitment and much more. Afonso Moreira on…
...his decision to join Leverkusen:
“I’m very proud and happy to be able to wear the Bayer 04 jersey. Right from our first conversation, I felt that this club was a perfect fit for my sporting ambitions. The club’s management have set out a clear path for me and won me over with their vision. For a young player, it’s incredibly important to know what the next steps in my development might look like, and that’s exactly what I’ve found here.”
...his thanks to the management:
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Simon Rolfes, Carles Martínez and Kim Falkenberg. The discussions with them were very open, honest and respectful. They took a close interest in my situation and my targets and made it clear to me they firmly believe in my potential. That recognition meant a great deal to me and was a key factor in my decision to join Leverkusen.”
...working with Carles Martínez:
“I’m really looking forward to working with him. Given his Spanish roots and my Portuguese background, there are many linguistic and cultural similarities that can make working together easier. What’s more, he knows French football from personal experience. I’m convinced that, under his guidance, I’ll gain valuable insights that will help me develop further.”
...commitment and team spirit:
“Everyone who knows me knows that I always give my all for the team. I’m coming to Leverkusen full of energy and enthusiasm, and I’m ready to work hard for my own success and that of the team. The fans can rest assured that in every training session and every match, I’ll be out on the pitch for Bayer 04 with passion, commitment and absolute dedication.”
...his sporting aims:
“Signing this long-term contract marks the start of a new and very exciting chapter for me. My aim is to continue developing at the highest level, to deliver consistently good performances and to contribute to the team’s success. The Bundesliga and the Europa League provide an excellent platform for this. At the same time, I want to put myself in contention for the Portuguese national team with strong performances.”
...his motivation for the future:
“Over the past few years, Leverkusen have built up an excellent reputation for developing young talent. Great players such as Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz have taken the next step on their journey to the very top of international football here. That shows the opportunities this club offers. I’m highly motivated to make the most of this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to meeting my new team-mates, the fans and experiencing many special moments together.”
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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