Sporting managing director Rudi Völler, who leaves his current post on 1 July to join the Bayer 04 Leverkusen shareholders committee, was very happy with the "result of many constructive meetings in the past few weeks. We were able to show one of the best German players in the coming decade important and convincing perspectives: above all, of course, a great squad who can help Florian display his strengths," said the 62-year-old. "Florian knows we will be competitive at Leverkusen in the coming years on the national and European stages. And he will be an important part of that. I'm looking forward to watching this lad play football in a Werkself shirt for a long time."
Sporting director Simon Rolfes, who will take over Völler’s role and duties in a few days, said about the new agreement with Wirtz: "In trusting and very good discussions with Florian and his family we were able to continue with commitment to the path we took in January 2020. The fact we have extended the contract again here and now underlines the absolute satisfaction on both sides. The partnership between Bayer 04 and Florian Wirtz is already an exceptional success story," declared Rolfes. "In that respect, we want to write another chapter. Florian is a special player. He has great sporting significance for our club and equally we can provide him with the best opportunities for a fantastic sporting career. We know we can still achieve a lot here together."
The 19-year-old Wirtz has played a key role in the Bayer 04 team for a long time. "The development over the last two years is almost breathtaking from my point of view and it was definitely not to be predicted in that form. It's clear to me that I also have to thank the team that makes it all incredible fun," explained Wirtz. "The lads are a decisive factor in me feeling at home here and everything has gone so well. We have a lot to give in ourselves and at this club. We want to show that to all Bayer 04 fans. And to those who aren't yet."
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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