
“Francis Onyeka is a child of the club and Bayer 04 through and through. That makes me even happier to see his outstanding development, ” said sporting managing director Simon Rolfes. “We are firmly convinced Francis will continue to have a successful career with us.”
Onyeka started playing for the Bayer 04 junior sides from the age of seven. The Gummersbach-born player, who joined Leverkusen from SC Borussia Lindenthal-Hohenlind, scored three goals for the Germany U17 team in the autumn in three Euro qualifiers.
Onyeka has found the back of the net six times in six games in the U17 Bundesliga West. The talented youngster has also made nine appearances in the U19 Bundesliga West (2 goals). The Germany youth player also trains with Werkself on a regular basis and is registered for UEFA Europa League.
“Bayer 04 is exactly right club for me,” said Onyeka. “The set-up is ideal, the support is brilliant. I see the opportunity of becoming a successful professional footballer here.“

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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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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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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