
"Moussa Diaby is an extremely fast, technically strong striker whose qualities suit our game down to the ground," said sporting director Simon Rolfes after the second signing in the current transfer window following that of Kerem Demirbay. "Moussa is already very advanced at the age of 19. He played 34 games last season, an impressive number for a top European club like PSG. He's one of the really big French talents who will find ideal conditions here with us in Leverkusen to develop into an absolutely top player," added Rolfes.
Diaby, who will wear the number 19 shirt for Bayer 04, came through the youth ranks at Paris Saint-Germain and he was a regular for the French team at the U20 World Cup in Poland. The left-footer is happy "about a great chance to have a fresh start at a top German club where I can improve myself and my game. The move abroad into one of the best and most evenly balanced leagues in Europe is extremely exciting," said Diaby. "I'm very interested in Germany, the special type of football and the great stadiums. And of course, it's great to be in the Champions League with Bayer 04."
For Rudi Völler, the Diaby transfer means "we are once again a very attractive club for young top players. It's well known that you can quickly reach the highest level at Leverkusen and that we are willing to show our confidence and share responsibility early independent of age with appropriate performances," said the sporting managing director. "I'm sure Moussa Diaby will be really good for us with his great pace and his technique."

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month.
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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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