
The Germany keeper signed a contract to 30 June 2020, "because I feel at home here in Leverkusen. Over the past few years I've seen constant improvement, not just with my game, but in the whole team and am completely convinced that this is the right step for me," said Leno. "This club has set itself very ambitious targets and I share them too."
The sporting director Rudi Völler believes the agreement with the 24-year-old is "incredibly important. Bernd has always believed in our club – and we in him too – and we took him on as a 19-year-old from the third division to become our regular first choice keeper," declared Völler. "He's a player that wants to go places with us. So I'm very happy that we were able to extend his contract."
CEO Michael Schade also sees the agreement with Leno as "an enormously important factor in building a Werkself team for the future. Bernd is a great goalkeeper," added Schade. "For the past five years he's proved this week by week, game by game. In the truest sense of the word we have secured the services of an exceptional shot-stopper over the long term."
With this successful move in building the squad head coach Roger Schmidt has secured another key position following the contract extensions with Karim Bellarabi and Wendell: "In spite of his youth Bernd has established himself as a key player for Bayer 04, is improving year by year and deservedly a key part of the Germany senior side," said Schmidt. "He's a complete goalkeeper even if he has the potential to improve even further. When you can secure a key player like that then it's a good sign for the club and for us as a team."


Happy birthday, Patrik Schick! On his special day, it's not just the Czech striker who can look forward to lots of presents and hopefully many more goals – Bayer 04 fans can also get their hands on a free number 14 print when they buy a Werkself jersey today, January 24! In addition, a match-worn jersey belonging to the now 30-year-old will be raffled off among all purchasers next week.
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The Werkself are looking for the first win of the new calendar year: Ahead of the sold-out Bundesliga home match against SV Werder Bremen on Saturday, 24 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET), head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about taking chances, possible winter transfers and a “Lion" returning to the Leverkusen matchday squad.
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Werder Bremen play Bayer 04 for the 90th time in the Bundesliga this Saturday, 24 January (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The overall record so far still favours the Green and Whites, who have 28 wins against the Black and Reds (with 25 defeats and 36 draws). The visit to the BayArena marks the start of a crucial busy week for Werder Bremen with clashes against TSG Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach to follow. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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A great start to the new eSports year as the Leverkusen professional gamers pick up nine points in the first three of six matches in the online preliminary round of the fourth showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. Between big wins, wonder goals and composed performances, there was plenty on offer against VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.
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