After yesterday's double shift to start the week, Heiko Herrlich led another training session with his players on Tuesday morning. Once again, the Werkself worked in sunshine under blue skies. "Everyone's up for it – it's clear to see everybody is fully motivated. Hats off to the lads for the way they're working," said head coach Heiko Herrlich in praise of his players. And not just that: Charles Aranguiz came onto the training ground 50 minutes later to complete a one-to-one session with the ball under fitness coach Daniel Jouvin. The Chilean has to take it easy due to persistent knee problems.
Finally, he has arrived: Two days after his eighteenth birthday on Sunday, new signing Paulinho is now in Leverkusen. After a 14-hour flight, the TAP Airline landed at Frankfurt Airport at 10.41 CET with Paulinho and five other family members on board. He was met by a Bayer 04 delegation. From there, the ICE train left at 11.55 for Cologne and then there was the short journey to the BayArena. At the home of the Werkself, he then met his fellow countryman Wendell and other future team-mates at 13.30. It remains to be seen when Paulinho will start training with the Werkself. "We don't want to overwork him and we'll have to see how he deals with jet lag. We will introduce him gradually and avoid going from nought to sixty with him," announced Herrlich and he ruled him out for tomorrow's friendly.
Shortly after Paulinho arrived, the Werkself and their coaches faced a flurry of camera flashes – the preliminary team photo was shot at the BayArena. At the command of the photographer, it was time for "heads up and smile." For the new signing from Brazil plus Lukas Hradecky, Mitchell Weiser, Thorsten Kirschbaum, and video analyst Marcel Daum it was the first team photo in Black and Red. And the currently injured Panagiotis Retsos also took part in the photo session – as did the U19 players Sam Schreck, Jakub Bednarczyk, Chinedu Ekene and Thomas Kucz. Absentees from the photo were World Cup player Julian Brandt and World Cup runner-up Tin Jedvaj plus the injured Joel Pohjanpalo. They are due to be on the final team photo planned for the end of August.
After the team photo was taken, there were more cameras waiting for Sven Bender, Leon Bailey and Co.: After Fortuna Düsseldorf and FC Schalke , Bayer 04 are the third Bundesliga club visited by the German Football League (DFL) this season for the so-called media day. In addition to video portraits, photoshoots and numerous shots for Sky, Eurosport and international TV broadcasters, the Werkself players were divided into groups of six (plus a group of coaches) for a range of challenges going on to early in the evening at the #BLMediaDay. The Werkself looked good in the team photo and other individual shots and events.
Heiko Herrlich's team have the first friendly of the pre-season on Wednesday: The opponents from the Rhineland Palatinate are SV Roßbach/Verscheid. The away game in Wiedbachtal is being staged for the 50th anniversary of the Rhineland Cup winners of 2012at the 'In der Au' sports ground in Roßbach/Wied. The match kicks off at 18.00 CET (live on Facebook). The Werkself will not only be playing in the new home kit for the first time but will also make their first journey on the new team bus.
From his arrival at the airport, the medical and contract signing, right through to photo shoots, his very own trading card and his first interview at the BayArena: Werkself TV followed new signing Afonso Moreira up close on his first day in Leverkusen. In the interview, the 21-year-old Portuguese left-winger, who has joined the Werkself from Lyon, talks about his excitement ahead of joining Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga, as well as his conversation with head coach Carles Martínez. Moreira also reveals the secret behind his iconic goal celebration – which he intends to perform “as often as possible” at the BayArena next season...
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A new signing for the U19s: Bayer 04 have signed winger Clinton Wilson from Schalke 04. The 18-year-old previously played for Leverkusen youth teams from January to June 2024.
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After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
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As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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