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.
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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