Simon Rolfes, managing director sport at Bayer 04, commented on the awards for Kennet Eichhorn and Francis Onyeka: “The gold medals for Kennet and Francis are fantastic personal accolades. You can’t get any better than this in youth football in Germany. They’ve made their mark at a very early stage in professional football and have absolutely earned it. They are outstanding players in their respective age groups. Francis has even received the medal for the second time. He is now part of our Future Team. He has played for Bayer 04 since he was a child, and this is, of course, of particular significance to us.”
Overview of 2025/26 award winners:
U19 (male): Francis Onyeka (gold), Boris Mamuzah Lum (silver), Mick Schmetgens (bronze)
U17 (male): Kennet Eichhorn (gold), Cassiano Kiala (silver), Louis Lemke (bronze)
At Bayer 04, Eichhorn and Onyeka have followed in illustrious footsteps as winners of the Fritz Walter Medal: In 2015, Jonathan Tah won gold in the U19 category, and Benjamin Henrichs achieved the same feat in 2016. Two years later, Kai Havertz was selected, also in the U19 category. In 2020 (U17) and 2022 (U19), Florian Wirtz also received the gold award on each occasion.
Overview of winners of the Fritz Walter Medal from Bayer Leverkusen:
2026: Kennet Eichhorn (U17/Gold), Francis Onyeka (U19/Gold – on loan at SV Elversberg)
2024: Francis Onyeka (U17/Gold), Loreen Bender (U19 female/Gold)
2022: Florian Wirtz (U19/Gold), Lisanne Gräwe (U19 female/Gold), Clara Fröhlich (U17 female/Gold)
2020: Florian Wirtz (U17/Gold)
2018: Kai Havertz (U19/Gold)
2016: Benjamin Henrichs (U19/Gold); Kai Havertz (U17/Silver)
2015: Jonathan Tah (U19/Gold)
2014: Julian Brandt (U18/Gold); Levin Öztunali (U18/Silver)
2013: Dominik Kohr (U19/bronze)
2012: Dominik Kohr (U18/bronze)
2010: Kolja Pusch (U17/bronze)
2008: Marcel Risse (U19/bronze); Richard Sukuta-Pasu (U18/bronze)
2007: Stefan Reinartz (U18/bronze); Nils Teixeira (U17/bronze)
After the 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg on Matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season, Edmond Tapsoba and Christian Kofane spoke to Werkself-TV...
Show more
Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg on Matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...
Show more
Bayer 04 earned a 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg on Bundesliga Matchday 3 with a late equaliser. The Werkself led at half-time through Christian Kofane's strike but the hosts, who went in the game as league leaders, turned it around with a quickfire double from Michael Gregoritsch after the break. The Black-and-Reds didn't give up, though, and salvaged a point thanks to substitute Patrik Schick's flick in the 89th minute.
Show more
After the first win of the season against 1. FC Union Berlin (4-0) last weekend, the Werkself are aiming to collect another three points at FC Augsburg on Saturday 12 September (kick-off 15:30 CEST). The hosts, meanwhile, are enjoying their best-ever start to a Bundesliga campaign and go into Matchday 3 top of the table for the first time. The Matchday News.
Show more
The Werkself are away to FC Augsburg on matchday 3 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game at the WWK Arena against the current – and for the first time – league leaders of the German top flight is on Saturday 12 September at 15:30 CEST. Ahead of the match, head coach Carles Martínez spoke about this week’s training and the team’s approach to the fixture, as they face an opponent brimming with confidence. The Spaniard also addressed a number of squad matters.
Show more
