Back
17.07.2023Bayer 04

International players start preseason

While most of the Werkself squad returned to training last week ahead of the coming 2023/24 season, head coach Xabi Alonso welcomed the international players, including summer signing Jonas Hofmann, back to Leverkusen on Monday 17 July.
crop_20230717_JS_Training_1338.jpg

In addition to the goalkeepers Lukas Hradecky and Patrick Pentz, Amine Adli, Sardar Azmoun, Adam Hlozek, Exequiel Palacios, Edmond Tapsoba plus Florian Wirtz returned to Leverkusen after international duty. New signing Jonas Hofmann, who joined Bayer 04 at the start of the month from league rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach, also returned to BayArena. The arrival of the international players produced happy faces and friendly greetings.

crop_20230717_FS_Leistungsdiagnostik_Natio_54575.jpg

While the majority of the Werkself squad started with a 90-minute session in the gym at 10.30 CEST, Hofmann and Co. completed performance checks at the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehab and training centre at the BayArena. The international players went through familiar medical tests and examinations as well as a range of diagnostic tests to check coordination, mobility and stability.

Granit Xhaka, who completed his first training sessions with the Werkself last week, also went through the performance tests.

 

crop_20230717_FS_Leistungsdiagnostik_Natio_54602.jpg

Hofmann completes first training session

The first training session of the week came in the afternoon with the Germany international Hofmann and the other international players also taking part after completing the performance tests. It was the first training session with the Werkself for the 31-year-old midfielder.

Head coach Xabi Alonso focused on passing in tight spaces at the start of the week. After an hour it was all over for Hofmann and Co. Following the intensive session, the players were happy to sign autographs and pose for selfies with the many fans in attendance omce again. The remaining members of he Werkself squad finished the day with a practice match.

b.

 

crop_20230717_JS_Training_2255.jpg

open trAIning sessions and first friendly

The other open training sessions on Tuesday (10.30 CEST), Wednesday (10.00 CEST) and Thursday (10.30 CEST) will be followed on Friday 21 July by the first friendly of the preseason. The Werkself play second division SC Paderborn 07 at the IMS Arena in Velbert. The kick-off is at 17.30 CEST and the match will be shown on Werkself TV, the Bayer 04 app and the club's YouTube channel free of charge.

Related News

Carlotta Wamser
Women - 25.08.2025

DFB-Punktespiel 2.0: Wamser joins DFB grandees Völler, Neuendorf and Frymuth

Bayer 04 player Carlotta Wamser is part of a VIP group joining together for the launch of the DFB campaign Punktespiel 2.0. The Germany international, who signed for the Werkself in the summer, will be speaking tonight (Monday) alongside former Leverkusen managing director sport Rudi Völler, now the current DFB sporting director, plus DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth at the FC Grenzwacht Hürtgen club house about the new clubs campaign launched by the German Football Association (DFB).

Show more
FC St. Pauli gegen Bayer 04
Bundesliga - 25.08.2025

Tickets for FC St. Pauli away game

The Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Matchday 5 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The game at the Millerntor Stadion will be played on Saturday, 27 September with the kick-off at 15:30 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.

Show more
Werkself beaten by Hoffenheim in Bundesliga opener | 1st matchday
Werkself-TV - 23.08.2025

TV highlights of 1-2 loss against TSG Hoffenheim

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-2 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 1st matchday of the Bundesliga 2025/26...

clubExklusivExclusive content Become a club member
BayArena
Bundesliga - 23.08.2025

Matchday news #B04TSG: Bundesliga season kicks off at BayArena

The 2025/26 Bundesliga season begins for the Werkself with a home game against Hoffenheim on Saturday. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 1 fixture at the BayArena.

Show more
Edmond Tapsoba
Bayer 04 - 23.08.2025

Werkself Magazine – Edmond Tapsoba interview: “It's the start of a new phase”

Edmond Tapsoba is one of the pillars of the Bayer 04 team. The defender is now in his seventh season with the Werkself and taking on a new role as a leader on and off the pitch. Talking to Werkself Magazine, the 26-year-old Burkina Faso international explains the increased demands placed on his position within the team, his role as a “big brother” and why the squad’s overhaul is an opportunity for him and the team.

Show more