It certainly wasn’t a new feeling for Diaby. After all, this was the second time he’d arrived in Leverkusen as a new signing. There were plenty of familiar faces there to greet him, but also many new ones who greeted him as he ran out onto the pitch among his teammates.
The fans in attendance outside the BayArena got to watch Diaby and the team warm up, go through their paces and finish with a match. Eliesse Ben Seghir also featured for much of the session. The Morocco international will now wear the No.29 shirt.
The Werkself’s final signing of the summer, Doué, was on a neighbouring pitch working alongside Martin Terrier, but the new man came over at the end of the session for a kick-about with his new teammates Diaby, Edmond Tapsoba, Victor Boniface and Loïc Badé.
Speaking to media after the session, Diaby said, “It’s great to be back. Some things have obviously changed, but on the whole I know the club, the pitches, the city and the fans. It makes starting out easier, as does the high quality of my teammates. We want to work together to build a good unit and will give our best for that.”
Asked about fellow Francophone Doué, who could play behind him on the right wing, Diaby answered, “It’s great. I know him from our time in France. He’s got great potential, is quick, big and physically strong. I’m excited about him.”
Diaby also expressed thanks towards the Bayer 04 management for the fact he will get to play in Leverkusen again. “Saudi Arabia was a good experience, but I wanted to come back here. So, thanks again to Simon [Rolfes] and Fernando [Carro], who fought for me. I hope to repay their trust on the pitch and am excited about my first game back at the BayArena. I’m older now and think I can help the team. We want to show on Saturday how Leverkusen fight as one, and I hope we can get a win for the fans.”
The Werkself play their first home fixture of the new season against Union Berlin on Saturday (15:30 CEST).
Diaby finished off by making his way over to his teammates with the fans, giving autographs and taking selfies. Many supporters had pulled out their old Diaby kits from several years ago. Others had already got their hands on the current design with his name and wanted them signed. Doué’s name was also seen on some shirts. One fan even had both to hand – the European kit with Diaby and the home jersey with Doué.
Fans also have the chance to win a Diaby kit in our sweepstake.
Following last weekend’s big game against Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 Women face another exciting challenge as they visit Hoffenheim to kick off Matchday 3 in the Google Pixel Bundesliga on Friday (kick-off: 18:30 CEST).
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Under the slogan ‘Holidays without War’, 60 children from war-torn Ukraine took part in the summer camp organised by the German-Ukrainian association Blau-Gelbes Kreuz in Leverkusen and the surrounding area in August. The children aged between 10 and 14 – many of whom have lost their parents in the war – come from the Ukrainian twin towns of Leverkusen, Cologne and Monheim am Rhein: Nikopol, Dnipro and Volodymyr. Bayer 04, Bayer AG and TSV Bayer 04 supported the camp to mark its 10th anniversary, enabling even more children and young people than in previous years to spend a few carefree days’ holiday away from the war in the Rhineland.
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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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