With over 76% of the 2,500 votes cast, the 20-year-old Germany international was clearly ahead of his team-mates – the Werkself number 29 played a significant role in securing qualification for the Champions League with 17 goals and four assists in his 34 Bundesliga appearances. The fans certainly recognised the value of the performances and commitment of Havertz and once again rewarded the home-grown Bayer 04 talent with the vote as Player of the Season in a repeat of 2016/17. The award will be presented to Havertz at the season launch event at the BayArena on 4 August. Nils Trude, winner of a competition held as part of the vote, will hand over the trophy.
Charles Aránguiz was runner-up with 7% of the vote. The 30-year-old Chilean scored two goals and provided seven assists in 24 league games last season. The midfield maestro, who carried over his impressive performances in the Bundesliga to the Copa América, was narrowly ahead of Kevin Volland in third place on 5%. The 26-year-old also had an exceptional season and was involved in 18 goals in the second half of the Bundesliga campaign (eight goals, ten assists). The ten-time Germany international scored 14 goals in the Bundesliga to equal his personal goalscoring record from 2017/18.
The following fans were picked out as winners: Nils Trude (2 VIP tickets plus presentation of the trophy), Hilger Georges (home shirt), Michael Herkenroth (away shirt) plus Christopher Leseberg, Stefan Vogt, Daniel Köthe, Kristina Hartmann and Finja Übrick (two tickets each for a home game).
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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