Due to the severity of the injury, an operation is required following the immediate treatment in Columbia. This will be performed by a specialist in Madrid by agreement with Bayer 04, Arias and Atlético. The 28-year-old Arias is expected to fly from Colombia to Spain in the middle of next week.
“This serious injury hits us hard and affects everybody. Santiago is a great character and has joined us with great ambition and it’s a bitter blow for him,” declared sporting director Simon Rolfes. “Like Atlético Madrid, we will do everything we can to support Santiago in his recovery. After the operation and his return to Leverkusen, he will be looked after by us during his rehab. Our medical section and the whole club are behind him so that he can return fully fit as soon as possible.”
“I can’t describe how I feel. I’d be lying if I said I’m doing alright but I don’t want to maintain the opposite. I’m sad about the situation,” Arias said on Instagram on Saturday. “This is another test to overcome and it will make me stronger. I promise to work hard to get back quickly and stronger and be able to wear the colours of Colombia and my club Bayer 04 Leverkusen again.”
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended Abdoulaye Faye’s contract by a further year to 30 June 2031. During the 2026/27 season, the talented defender will play for Celta Vigo on loan without an option to buy. The 21-year-old Senegalese is set to feature in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League with last season’s sixth-placed side in Spain.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme on day one (Sunday 2 August) includes a media round with managing director sport Simon Rolfes, free time for the team after the friendly against Rot-Weiss Essen and before an intensive week of training begins, as well as a coffee get-together where CEO Fernando Carro and Rolfes met around 100 fans in the afternoon.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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A warm welcome to the Weimarer Land, Bayer 04! The Werkself moved into their accommodation for this year’s training camp on Saturday evening. In Blankenhain, Thuringia, head coach Carles Martínez’s team have a programme of gruelling training sessions – several of which will be open to fans – and team-building activities lined up for the next six days. We’ll be following the Werkself up close and providing you with exclusive insights, quotes, photos and videos from the training camp.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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