
"The team have been deeply involved with this catastrophe over the past few days. There have been a lot of discussions here in the training camp in Austria and all of them are affected given the suffering that the floods have brought to so many people," said head coach Gerardo Seoane. "The lads want to play their part in helping out and therefore we have decided together that we will play a benefit match at the earliest opportunity in aid of the victims. Where and when still has to be planned in detail. But we, as Bayer 04 Leverkusen, want to show our solidarity like so many other people."
The Bayer 04 Veterans will also play a benefit match in support of the flood victims. On Tuesday, 27 July (kick-off: 18.00 CEST) the former Werkself players will be in action at Wiedbachtaler Sportfreunden Neitersen. The match will be played in Neitersen at the Auf der Emma sports ground. The Bayer 04 team will include former players Jens Nowotny, Ramazan Özcan and Hanno Balitsch.
In addition to the match against the Sportfreunde, the Veterans will also play in Leichlingen. The sports ground was also damaged by the floods. Further information on the date of the match and the opposition is to follow.

The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
Show more
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
Show more
The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
Show more
On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
Show more
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
Show more