"Mark Flekken has a great wealth of ability that a goalkeeper needs in top-level football today. He has great reflexes, dominates his area well and has enormous reach with his height of 1.95 metres. Mark has an impressive physical presence and in terms of football he was one of the best keepers in the Premier League over the past two years," said Bayer 04 sporting managing director Simon Rolfes. "He knows the Bundesliga from his successful time at Freiburg. The years in England and his role in the Netherlands team have brought Mark a great amount of international experience on top of that. We are very well placed in the goalkeeping position for the team in the coming years," declared Rolfes.
For the Oranje keeper with eight caps, the move to Bayer 04 is "the next and special step in my career. Many games against absolutely world-class players in England have raised the level of my game," said Flekken. "I'm very happy to be able to dedicate my qualities now to a top German club with big national and European targets. I love the Bundesliga and I'm obviously also looking forward to playing for the Werkself in the Champions League."
Flekken returns from England as a seasoned player to Germany where he was a U17 player for Alemannia Aachen. After playing for Greuther Fürth and MSV Duisburg, he signed for SC Freiburg in 2018 where he made his breakthrough. He played 96 games for the Freiburg side and became one of the top goalkeepers in the league, which brought Flekken to the attention of foreign clubs. The model athlete made 74 Premier League appearances for Brentford over two seasons.
Lots of experience from the Premier League and Bundesliga: Mark Flekken profile
A group of journalists representing Latin American and Spanish-language media outlets visited the BayArena on Thursday for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Bayer 04 and interviews with key personnel that have driven the team’s brand to new heights internationally over the last few years.
Show more
The start of the new season of the VBL Club Championship by WOW produced two wins and one defeat for Leverkusen, including a victory against SC Paderborn 07, semi-finalists last season and double winners in 2023/24. The Leverkusen gamers were beaten by 1. FSV Mainz 05, runners-up in the South-East Division last year.
Show more
Eleven days after the floodlight failure, the Bayer 04 Women rescued a point in the rescheduled Bundesliga derby at 1. FC Köln thanks to a late dream goal from Katharina Piljic. The Werkself drew 2-2 at the Franz Kremer Stadion on Thursday evening. Vanessa Fudalla (76') from the penalty spot and Piljic with a shot from the centre circle (88') gave the Black and Reds a late reprieve. Leverkusen, who are now been unbeaten against their Rhineland neighbours for almost four years, remain fourth in the table with the draw following five consecutive wins.
Show more
The date for the Bayer 04 Women's DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie has been set. As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday, the Leverkusen Women will play league rivals Hamburger SV on Sunday, 16 November at 15:00 CET.
Show more
