Back
31.01.2017Bayer 04

Bayer 04 sign rising star Leon Bailey

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the Jamaican striker Leon Bailey with immediate effect. The 19-year-old joins the club from Belgian Europa League participants KRC Genk on a five-year contract to 2022.
© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

"In Leon Bailey we have brought in another highly promising player on a long-term deal," declared Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade. "This lad was also high up on the wish list of many other European clubs. That makes as even happier to have won out against such strong competition."

Sporting director Rudi Völler believes Bailey, who is entitled to play in the Champions League in spite of Europa League appearances for Genk, fits in perfectly with the Werkself system. "He's an unusually quick, very tricky player who will give our attack an additional boost. We are sure Leon Bailey will be a big hit for us."

The player is very happy to wear the Werkself shirt. “Bayer 04 are a good club. I’d like to take my next important step here. Leverkusen are well known as a club where you can really develop. And the way they play football is attractive. I like that,” said Leon Bailey who will wear the number nine shirt this season.

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

Related News

Ibrahim Maza beim Ballon d‘Or 2026
Bayer 04 - 26.10.2026

Maza nominated for Men's Young Talent of the Year at the Ballon d‘Or 2026 ✨

Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.

Show more
Moussa Diaby und Loïc Badé
Bayer 04 - 26.10.2026

Diaby and Badé sidelined

Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.

Show more
Die U19 von Bayer 04 im UHS
U19 - 26.10.2026

U19s face Marseille youth team in friendly on UEL matchday

The Bayer 04 U19s are set to host Marseille in a top-level friendly. The match against the French side is at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Thursday, 5 November, at 14:00 CET. Admission is free for fans. A few hours later, the two clubs face each other in the Europa League at the BayArena.

Show more
Edmond Tapsoba, Jonas Hofmann und Co. nach Abpfiff
Bundesliga - 26.10.2026

Werkself review: ‘It wasn’t our best day’

It has been a long time since feeling what it’s like to come away empty-handed. The last – and so far only – defeat of the season, in Elversberg, was two months ago. Since then, Bayer 04 have followed that up with seven wins and a draw. Now it has happened again away to TSG Hoffenheim. As the match progressed, the Werkself grew in confidence and “could even have scored the opening goal”, as Robert Andrich said after the game. In the end, it was the side from Sinsheim who sealed a 3–0 victory after “hectic closing stages” (kicker). The Werkself review.

Show more
Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg | 8th matchday
Werkself-TV - 25.10.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 0-2 loss at Nürnberg

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-2 loss at 1. FC Nürnberg on Matchday 8 of the 2026/27 Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga.

Show more