Jonas Hofmann on...
...his decision to join Bayer 04: After the time with the national team in the summer, I felt I wanted to start a new chapter. It's an honour when a club like Leverkusen gets in contact. I had a brilliant time at Mönchengladbach and I developed there as a player and a person. It was never a decision against Gladbach but always a decision for me and my future. I can't wait to start the new chapter, I believe in the development of this club and that the success of last season will continue.
...his impression of the Bayer 04 management: The talks with Simon Rolfes and Xabi Alonso impressed me. Simon with his experience and his expertise as a former international and Xabi as an internationally recognised personality in sport. I loved watching him play football. When you talk to him about football now and he explains how he wants to play the game, what approach he has and where he sees you as a player then it is something special and very instructive. He gave me the feeling I can help the team with my qualities. After the talks, I realised it was the right step for me.
…the first training sessions under the Bayer Cross with international teammate Florian Wirtz: Flo is a really special talent. He's only 20 years old but again and again has impressively demonstrated his qualities in recent years. I'm very much looking forward to playing alongside him at club level. His ability and vision are impressive. I'm sure we'll complement each other on the pitch.
...his targets with the Werkself in the coming season: I want to be a full part of the team. The experience, not just from me but also that the other experienced new signings bring, will help us take the young players with us. Everybody wants the team to be successful and to contribute to that development. I've been struck in the first sessions by the extremely positive energy from everybody.
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
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The Bundesliga fixture between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been postponed at short notice.
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Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time in almost eight years. Although the Hanseatic city team are often below par on the road, they are regularly in top form in front of their own fans. In particular, 18-year-old shooting star Luka Vuskovic is proving to be a real bonus for Merlin Polzin's team, both in attack and defence. However, that should not scare the Werkself: Not only was the last defeat against the newly promoted team 17 games ago, but Kasper Hjulmand's players are in with a chance of securing their fifth win in six games against HSV. Today’s matchday news.
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