The players and staff left the BayArena on time at nine in the morning. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and striker Lucas Alario, who was recently injured, rejoined the team. Youngsters Joshua Eze, Christian Schwieren, Sadik Fofana, Noah Pesch, Ayman Aourir, goalkeeper Maximilian Neutgens and Zidan Sertdemir were also on board on the way to Austria. Julian Baumgartlinger, who was in action at the European Championships like Hradecky, is expected at the training camp at the beginning of next week.
The flight is due to land in Salzburg at 11.40 CEST and, after arrival at the hotel and a communal meal, the first training session at the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See is at 16.00 CEST. Sporting director Simon Rolfes' assessment of Salzburger Land, "outstanding conditions. We really feel at home there. Particularly as the training camp had to be cancelled last year we are looking forward to Zell am See and Kaprun even more. Everybody knows each other, the organisation on site has always been wonderful in the many years we've been there. The hotel, training ground and everything else will be perfect again."
After intensive workouts in numerous sessions over the week, the Werkself finish this year's training camp with the first pre-season friendly. Bayer 04 play SC Freiburg on the day of departure (23 July). The two Bundesliga teams meet at the Wattens Gernot Langes Stadium at 14.00 CEST. After the game, the team and support staff will fly back to Germany from Innsbruck.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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