The returning players took part in Monday morning’s intensive session with the squad – as did Abdoulaye Faye, who went off due to injury in the friendly in Offenbach (3-1). After the warm-up, a tournament-style session took place in a confined space across two pitches, before the roughly 90-minute training session concluded with several sprints.
The Werkself will play their next – and third – pre-season friendly on Wednesday 29 July (kick-off: 15:00 CEST) against top Belgian side KRC Genk at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium in Leverkusen. On Saturday 1 August (kick-off: 11:00 CEST), the club will then host third-division side Rot-Weiss Essen. Tickets for the two friendlies are available to Bayer 04 members.
Following the game against RWE, the Werkself will head off to the training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region on Saturday afternoon, where they will continue to prepare for the coming season up to Friday 7 August.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.
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Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Germany U19 international Luca Erlein from Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old right-back, who is capable of playing in various defensive positions, has penned a contract until 30 June 2030.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has a new coffee partner. The club has agreed a long-term partnership with the Bocholt-based roastery Imping, running to 30 June 2031. The exclusive partnership with the family-run business includes the installation of fully automatic coffee machines at the BayArena, as well as the right to supply and serve coffee products in the business areas during Werkself home games.
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