Back
10.10.2020Bayer 04

Broken leg and ankle injury: Arias out for six months

Bayer 04 will probably have to manage without Santiago Arias for six months. The right-back, who signed for Leverkusen on loan from Atlético Madrid two and a half weeks ago, suffered a broken leg playing for Colombia in a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela (3-0) in Barranquilla. Arias also sustained ligament injuries in his ankle.
crop_20200929_20200929_JS_Training_0943.jpg

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.”

25_Football_90001_BuLi-Start-Clubs_DCM-P_814_1509_300x250.jpg

Related News

Lobke Loonen und Roberto Pätzold
Women - 01.10.2026

No Pokal aftereffects: Women eye first home win against Bremen

Having progressed to the DFB Pokal Round of 16, the Bayer 04 Women do not have much time before their next Bundesliga fixture. On Friday night (18:30 CEST), coach Roberto Pätzold’s side kick off matchday six at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium against Werder Bremen – and they have a clear mission.

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.10.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn October highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career working as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
Ticket-Infos für das Europa-League-Heimspiel gegen Olympique Marseille
Europa League - 30.09.2026

Tickets for the UEL home match against Marseille

Bayer 04 host top French club Marseille at the BayArena on matchday four in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League group stage. The match kicks off on Thursday 5 November at 21:00 CET. The latest information on ticket sales.

Show more
Patrik Schick auf dem Trainingsplatz
Bayer 04 - 30.09.2026

Friendly against Fortuna Köln

During the international break, Bayer 04 will face third-division newcomers SC Fortuna Köln on Friday 2 October (kick-off: 11:00 CEST). The match will be played on training pitch 1 at the BayArena, as preparations are already underway at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for the Bayer 04 women’s Bundesliga home match against Werder Bremen, which is due to kick off in the early evening. To ensure the friendly against Fortuna Köln runs smoothly and without disruption, it will be played behind closed doors.

Show more