Bayer 04 head off for sunnier climes on the first Tuesday in the New Year for the third successive winter training camp in Orlando from 3 to 12 January 2017. In addition to intensive preparation for the forthcoming challenges in the Bundesliga and Champions League there are two matches in the Florida Cup. The opponents for the Werkself are the two top South American clubs Estudiantes de La Plata from Argentina and Clube Atlético Mineiró from Brazil.
Bayer 04 enjoyed perfect conditions in Orlando in 2015 and 2016 and this time the Hotel Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate provides the base for the Werkself. At the start of this year, the Werkself played Santa Fe (Colombia) and SC Internacional (Brazil) in the Florida Cup. A 1-0 win against Santa Fe was followed by a 3-3 draw against SC Internacional.
The third year of this competition in 2017 will include the VfL Wolfsburg Academy team, SC Corinthians, Flamengo (both from Brazil), Barcelona SC (Ecuador) and Tampa Bay Rowdies from the Major League Soccer in addition to Bayer 04, Estudiantes de La Plata and club Atletico Mineiro.
The first opponent for the Werkself in the New Year will be Estudiantes de la Plata on 8 January at 14.00 (local time) at the A1Lang Stadium in Tampa. The Argentinian club won the Copa Libertadores de América, the premium club competition in South America, in 2009 and are currently fourth in the Primera Division in Argentina.
Clube Atlético Mineiró are the second opponent for Bayer 04 on 11 January at 19.00 (local time) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Stadium in Orlando. Atletico Mineiro won the Copa Libertadores, in 2013, and in 2014 the club lifted the Recopa South America and won the domestic cup competition in Brazil. This season they are in fourth place in Brazil’s Serie A. One of the stars of the team is Robinho, former Brazil international and striker with Real Madrid.
Two home games for starters
Bayer 04 restart the Bundesliga with two home games: The first half of the season finishes with the match against third-placed Hertha Berlin on Sunday 22 January at 15.30 CET. The first matchday in the second half of the season sees Borussia Mönchengladbach visit the BayArena on Saturday 28 January (18.30 CET).
The final whistle of the current 2025/26 season marks the end of a unique partnership for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. After more than three decades of collaboration and highly eventful times, the Bundesliga football club and the private brewery Bitburger are going their separate ways.
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A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are bringing back Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2025. The Bundesliga club activated the buy-back option in the contract with the Bosnia international, who has enjoyed great success at the Austrian top-flight club since the start of the current season. Alajbegovic moved to Salzburg from the Leverkusen U19s last year. The 1.86-metre forward has signed a five-year contract at Leverkusen with a start date of 1 July 2026.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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