“Florian Wirtz is an exceptional lad who has all the potential required to make a significant contribution to German football in the coming years,” said Rudi Völler, the sporting managing director at Bayer 04. “We’ll do all we can at Leverkusen to encourage his great development in the future. I think he’s in the right place with us here as Bayer 04 gives young players the chance to get top-level match practice early on.”
Florian Wirtz, who made his debut for Leverkusen in January 2020, is following in big footsteps at Bayer 04. Benjamin Henrichs won the Fritz Walter gold medal in the U19 section in 2016 and Kai Havertz followed two years later. Simon Rolfes: “The Fritz Walter medal is absolutely deserved in every respect given the way Florian has performed in the Bundesliga and in Europe at his young age. Nevertheless, he’s still a young player and we want to continue to help in his development. If he carries on as he is with his attitude then Florian will definitely have a wonderful career.”
In the first half of last season, Florian Wirtz was playing for the FC Köln youth team. After his move to Leverkusen, he first appeared for the U19s in the U19 Bundesliga West before joining the first team squad after the break enforced by the coronavirus pandemic. Wirtz came off the bench to make his Bundesliga debut at Werder Bremen on 18 March – at the age of 17 years and 15 days, he was the third youngest debutante in the history of the Bundesliga. The youngster from Pulheim made history again 19 days later: His strike against Bayern Munich made him the youngest goalscorer in the top flight of German football.
Meikel Schönewitz, head coach of the Germany youth teams, said the following about Florian Wirtz: “He’s a creative playmaker who has very good basic techniques. He’s dealt very well with all the hype about him and ridden that wave in a positive sense – and that shows he has a rational personality and the right focus.” Wirtz has been in all of the Germany youth squads from the U15s and has made nine international appearances to date.
Leverkusen winners of the Fritz Walter medal:
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)
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
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On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
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Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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