Before getting to work with the ball on the grass again this coming week, Sunday was all about the obligatory medical and athletic testing, which saw the players undergo all sorts of examinations from their head to their feet, as well as internal medicine and orthopaedics. The Werkself players then completed various exercises related to coordination, mobility and stability along with spirometry on the treadmill.
To this end, the 17 players appeared punctually in small groups throughout the day on the third floor of the BayArena. Victor Boniface and Odilon Kossounou, for example, got things under way at 9 am, followed by new recruit Andrea Natali and birthday boy Jonas Hofmann. In the afternoon, it was the turn of the likes of summer signing Aleix Garcia, Amine Adli and Edmond Tapsoba. Captain Lukas Hradecky quipped in between his tests: "Unfortunately, I've only completed the first half - the harder part is still to come with the running," adding: "I look forward less to this day, and much more to being back on the pitch with the lads tomorrow and having fun."
On the subject of being back on the pitch, head coach Xabi Alonso will welcome his players to the training ground for the first time since the summer break tomorrow, Monday 15 July. The session outside the gates of the BayArena is set to start at 11:00 CEST and is open to the public.
Euro finalist Alejandro Grimaldo and Exequiel Palacios, who is involved in the Copa América final with Argentina, will miss the start of pre-season training along with a number of other internationals, who are enjoying a well-earned holiday following their tournament appearances straight after the end of the season.
Find an overview of the first open sessions HERE.
To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
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The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
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It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
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Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the Senegalese central defender Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old joins the Bundesliga side from Swedish top-flight club BK Häcken. Faye has penned a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2030.
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