The 21-year-old Brandt has played for the Werkself since the second half of the 2013/14 season and in the current campaign he has scored six goals and provided four assists to date. The Bremen-born forward has clocked up 24 goals and 25 assists in 126 Bundesliga games for Bayer 04. He has also found the back of the net three times in the DFB Cup including an important double in the quarter-final tie against Werder Bremen that paved the way for the semi-final against Bayern Munich on 17 April. And Brandt has also proved himself as a goalscorer in the Champions League, a competition Bayer 04 are looking to return to next season: "I always try to achieve the best possible results," declared Brandt after last weekend's draw against Augsburg. The contract extension, agreed well before the end of the season, demonstrates his belief that Bayer 04 are capable of playing in Europe's premier club competition again next term. Brandt: "I really feel at home here and I can see a great future. That was recently shown by contract extensions for Jonathan Tah and Lars Bender. Exactly like me, they are both convinced we can achieve something with this team. We want to win titles. And I really want to work with the other lads on that and also assume more responsibility in this team."
Sporting director Rudi Völler sees Brandt's commitment to Bayer 04 as confirmation of the Leverkusen concept of showing confidence in young and highly talented players early on and helping them to the highest possible level as well as encouraging them to develop: "Julian was already an exceptional player when he joined us as a 17-year-old. The level he's at now would probably not have been achieved as quickly without the playing time he's been able to amass with us," said Völler. "He had to show what he could do early on and he did it brilliantly. We're very happy he's opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen in spite of other options at top European clubs. That shows Julian's character, great ambition and courage."
The Leverkusen number 10 showed his true mettle in the summer of 2017. After a disappointing season for Bayer 04 with a twelfth-place finish, Brandt said he wanted to "make amends and put things right." He felt "obliged to help put the club back to where it belongs and for me that means being in the top six," said Brandt.
A new look and new kit supplier for the 2025/26 campaign: Bayer 04 in tandem with sports equipment manufacturer New Balance present the official kit for the Leverkusen eSports players the coming season. New partner Sinology appears on the top right of the jersey. Menswear outfitters Lerros is still the main eSports sponsor and Niedax remains the sleeve partner. The jersey is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
Show moreBosnia U19 international Kerim Alajbegovic is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth set-up to Red Bull Salzburg. The talented attacking midfielder has signed a long-term contract with the Austrian club. At the same time, the works club secured a buy-back option for the 17-year-old, who was one of the mainstays of the Leverkusen U19s.
Show morePreparations for the 2025/26 season at Bayer 04 start next Monday, 7 July, with the first team and youth players training together. Without the international players who were involved with their national teams at the end of last season, new head coach Erik ten Hag will welcome a group of senior and youth players to the first open training session one week ahead of the departure to the training camp in Rio de Janeiro. After the official welcome in the dressing room, the Werkself players will start the session in the shadow of the BayArena on 7 July at 14:00 CEST.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Premier League club Chelsea in the final pre-season friendly. The game against the current holders of the UEFA Conference League is on Friday, 8 August at Stamford Bridge with the kick-off at 20:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show more