The signing and announcement of the contract was held in a formal setting: SalzburgerLand invited Bayer 04 to the casino on Zeller See. The Werkself took the opportunity to turn out in force. “This is our fifth year here. This partnership is an absolute win-win situation for our club,” declared Bayer 04 managing director Michel Schade. “The facilities are excellent, the training ground is in great condition. Salzburger Land is an ideal location for a training camp. That’s why we keep coming here,” said Schade.
Bayer 04 sporting director Rudi Völler is not unduly concerned by the rainy weather this year: “We’ve always had great weather in the past. I don’t think it’s a bad thing the sun hasn’t shone as much this time. It’s more comfortable for training than extreme heat. The groundsmen are doing an outstanding job under these weather conditions too.”
“Feels like a family”
Leo Bauernberger, CEO of SalzburgerLand Tourismus GmbH: “We are very happy to continue our partnership with a top German club. The training camp in Zell am See/Kaprun obviously plays an important role. North-Rhine Westphalia is an important target market for Salzburger Land. We can use our partnership with Bayer 04 at our events to showcase the beauty of Salzburger Land.” The CEO of the holiday region of Zell am See/Kaprun, Renate Ecker, sees contact with Bayer 04 as much more than a partnership: “Guests have become friends. And now it feels like a family.”
This is the fifth year the Werkself have been in Salzburger Land for pre-season preparations. The Hotel Tauern Spa in Kaprun is once again the base for the team and the Alois Latini Stadium, home to FC Zell am See, the venue for the many intensive training sessions.
The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a centre for the development of female talent for the 2026/27 season. The club was awarded that role on 1 January 2026, and this status has now been renewed.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have sold young defender Andrea Natali to AZ Alkmaar on permanent terms. The 18-year-old Italian was on loan at the Dutch club last season, where he mainly played for the reserve team in the second division.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 3-1 victory in the friendly match at Kickers Offenbach...
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It’s always nice having your best friends round for a birthday! Bayer 04 made a guest appearance at Stadion am Bieberer Berg as part of Offenbacher Kickers’ 125th anniversary celebrations, and nearly 1,500 Werkself supporters accepted the invitation to this historic venue, joining the Offenbach crowd in celebrating the more than 45-year friendship between the clubs. On the pitch, the Werkself secured a 3–1 victory in the friendly against the fourth-tier Regionalliga side. The Leverkusen goals were scored by Christian Kofane (38’), Jonas Hofmann (48’) and Afonso Moreira (81’). Keanu Staude had put the hosts ahead in the first half (11’).
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