This time Karim Bellarabi took time out to visit the Media Centre at the BayArena on Wednesday afternoon to answer the many questions from the 100 girls and boys present. Karim provided insights into his private life and he described his path to becoming a professional footballer – the fulfilment of his dreams. As a child, he played with his mates on the street every day and even took football to bed with him at night as the eleven-time Germany international explained. The 28-year-old also gave his young audience tips about how to make it as a professional footballer..
The German Football League (DFL) is continuing to promote the overseas marketing of the Bundesliga. On Tuesday an office was opened in New York. "The USA represents the biggest and most important sport and media market in the world. In terms of our sustainable, long-term growth against this background, it is only logical that the DFL is better represented here than before," said DFL CEO Christian Seifert. The Werkself were represented by Fernando Carro, the spokesman for the management plus marketing and communications director Jochen A. Rotthaus and former pro Stefan Kießling.
Talking about Stefan Kießling. Five-months after his last appearance in professional football, 'Kies' has continued his career at Bayer 04. At the start of the month, the 34-year-old took up his post as sporting management adviser. How he has settled into his new environment and what his future roles are will probably revealed when he appears on the football talk show Doppelpass on Sunday. The league game against Hannover 96 could also be a subject for discussion. The programme is broadcast live by SPORT1 from 11.00 CET.
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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