The match-winner was beaming after the final whistle unburdened of any stress and strain. “I’m really happy we did it. We’re all relieved and we’re over the moon,” said Benjamin Henrichs after his cool conversion of the winning spot-kick in the penalty shootout with Holland secured fifth spot at the U19 European Championships. Seconds after finding the back of the net he was submerged in a celebrating huddle with his deliriously happy team-mates.
The 5-4 win in the penalty shootout, following a a hard-fought 3-3 draw over 120 minutes, was enough to seal fifth place for Germany in the Euros on home soil – and qualification for next year’s U20 World Cup in South Korea. It was a roller coaster ride for the hosts with plenty of ups and downs: 1-0 ahead, 2-1 behind within minutes and an almost completely unexpected equaliser in the third minute of added time to take the game to extra time. Then 3-2 before the blow of an equaliser to level the scores at 3-3 – and to round it off a thunderous shot against the bar in the final minutes of extra time from Benny Henrichs. The lottery of penalties followed with Amara Conde failing to score for the Germany U19s. The game was in the hands of the Dutch side but they hit the bar before Henrichs slotted the winning penalty into the back of the net.
It was a thrilling encounter in front of 8,600 enthusiastic fans in Sandhausen. Germany were clearly the better side before the Dutch hit back out of the blue in the closing stages. Henrichs produced an outstanding display in defensive midfield and everything the impressive Werkself pro did seemed to come off. Bayer 04 central defender Lukas Boeder did not get in in Germany’s final match of the tournament.
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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