
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.


Welcome back! On Tuesday morning, 11 August, Jarell Quansah and Exequiel Palacios – the last of the Werkself’s World Cup participants – returned to training. The two medallists and their team-mates are set to play their final two pre-season friendlies in England this week before the start of competitive fixtures.
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Bayer 04 have unveiled the new third kit for the 2026/27 season. The design, developed by kit supplier New Balance, combines the city’s colours with symbols that have defined Leverkusen and Bayer 04 for generations.
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Tickets for the first two Bayer 04 women’s team home games are now on general sale. A week after their league opener away at RB Leipzig, Roberto Pätzold’s side will face last season’s runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, in the first home fixture on Sunday 30 August (kick-off: 16:00 CEST). Fifteen days later, on Monday night, 14 September (kick-off: 18:00 CEST), the Leverkusen Women host German champions Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for a top-of-the-table league clash. You can now also select specific seats via the online shop. The latest information on match ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Montrell Culbreath for the start of the 2026/27 season. The forward injured his foot injury in yesterday’s preseason friendly against Spanish top-flight side Sevilla (2–1), which rules him out of action for the time being. Culbreath’s diagnosis is not yet complete; further examinations are to follow in the coming days.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended midfielder Noah Mbamba’s contract by twelve months and sent the Belgian U21 international on loan to France. At FC Lorient, the 21-year-old – whose contract at Leverkusen now runs to 30 June 2029 – is set to gain playing time in Ligue 1 and, through strong performances and further development, put himself in the running for a future place in the Werkself squad.
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