
For Rudi Völler, managing director sport, the 1.89 metre central striker is a good addition to the current strike force. "After the serious injury to Joel Pohjanpalo, we intensified our search for a classic centre forward. With Isaac Kiese Thelin, we've brought in a striker who's good in the air."
"He's done brilliantly in the Belgian league," said head coach Heiko Herrlich. "Isaac represents an additional option for us up front. He will make our attacking game even more flexible."
Kiese Thelin is looking forward to the new challenge. "Bayer 04 are a big club with an exciting past. Leverkusen are consistently in Europe and they have ambitious targets for the coming season. I want to contribute to achieving those targets."
Thelin will wear the number 11 shirt for the Werkself. "Of course, I know Stefan Kießling. He's a legendary striker," declared Kiese Thelin. "Being the number 11 makes me feel proud. I hope I can produce good performances in the shirt."
The striker, born in Örebro, has won 24 caps and scored two goals for Sweden and he made four brief appearances at this summer's World Cup in Russia in three group matches and the Round of 16 game against Switzerland. In Sweden, Kiese Thelin played for Karslunds, IFK Norrköping and Malmö FF at club level, before moving on to French club Bordeaux in 2015. Then he joined RSC Anderlecht; there he went out on loan to Waasland-Beveren last term where he scored 16 goals in 25 games – the best return in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. He also found the back of the net three times in the play-offs.


Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 4-0 victory in the friendly match against KRC Genk...
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In their third friendly of this pre-season, Bayer 04 played on home soil for the first time – and won there too! The Werkself claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Jeanuel Belocian (9’) and Nathan Tella (42’) gave a dominant Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at the break, which Afonso Moreira (51’) and Christian Kofane (53’) doubled after the break. Among the many second-half substitutions was Patrik Schick, who made his first friendly appearance of the summer.
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The Werkself are finally back. On Saturday 8 August, Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign with their opening match. But there’s far more than just a double-header in store for Werkself supporters. True to the motto ‘One day. Two teams. One club’, the BayArena and the Ulrich Haberland Stadium will be transformed into a world of excitement.
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The Werkself continue their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with their third friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Wednesday 29 July (kick-off 15:00 CEST). Werkself-TV is broadcasting the match live and in full in a stream from 14:50 CEST...