Back
15.08.2023Bayer 04

Bayer 04 sign Czech keeper Kovar from Manchester United

Bayer 04 have signed the Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar. The 23-year-old joins Leverkusen from Manchester United. The 6‘ 5“ U21 international was on loan from Manchester United at top-flight Czech club Sparta Prague last season. The English club signed Kovar five years ago when he moved from his hometown club FC Slovacko to the U18 squad of the Premier League side. Kovar has signed a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2027.
crop_20230811_Kovar_Vertragsunterzeichnung-23.jpg

"Matej Kovar is big, strong in one-on-ones and is very good with his feet," said Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 sporting managing director, in describing the qualities of the Czech keeper. "He's a player with great prospects and we have high hopes for him in the coming years."

Kovar made 32 appearances as the number one keeper at Sparta Prague last season and he kept a clean sheet 11 times. Before his move to Germany, he had detailed discussions with his Czech fellow countrymen, the former Leverkusen player Michal Kadlec. "Michal not only told me all about the Bundesliga but also Bayer 04 Leverkusen in particular," said the goalkeeper. "He described the club to me in glowing detail. I'm very excited about the quality of this team. From what I've seen so far, I can hardly wait for the next few years."

Related News

VBL CC Final 2026
eSports - 07.03.2026

#B04eSports: Leverkusen in quarter-finals after beating HSV

The #B04 eSports team made a successful start to the 2025/26 VBL Club Championship finals. Marc and Sean Landwehr defeated the hosts of the event, Hamburger SV, in the Round of 16. The quarter-final in the German club championship will be played on Sunday, 8 March at 14:00 CET against SC Freiburg, who finished top of the table in the league phase.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #SCFB04
Bundesliga - 07.03.2026

Matchday news #SCFB04: Conquer fortress Freiburg to maintain gap

Freiburg’s defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend left them two places but a whole 10 points behind Bayer 04. Their results in general may be mixed, but Julian Schuster’s side are a force to be reckoned with at home, where they have earned 24 of their 33 points. Leverkusen may choose to look for the aerial route if they’re to get the better of their hosts, who have conceded more headed goals than any other team. Here’s all you need to know ahead of Saturday afternoon’s game in our matchday news.

Show more
Re-LIVE | Die PK vor dem Auswärtsspiel beim SC Freiburg | 25. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 06.03.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #SCFB04: ‘We are only focussed on this game and the opponent’

A boost for the second Bundesliga away game in a row: The Werkself take on SC Freiburg just three days after the convincing 1-0 win at Hamburger SV. Ahead of the game on Saturday, 7 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the lessons learned from the rearranged fixture at HSV, a trio on yellow cards and young players like Christian Kofane and Montrell Culbreath.

Show more
SC Freiburg
Bundesliga - 06.03.2026

Our next opponents: SC Freiburg difficult to beat on own turf

SC Freiburg suffered their eighth away defeat of the season in Frankfurt last weekend. But at home, at the Europa Park Stadion, coach Julian Schuster's team are clocking up one win after the next. SCF are unbeaten in the last 16 matches at home. On Saturday, 7 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET), they will be looking to keep the run going in the clash with the Werkself. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more