The winter signing from FC Köln is currently taking a rest after his first appearances for the senior team and he has been back at school since last week. A daily routine for a 17-year-old. However, the past few days have been exciting for Florian Wirtz: The Pulheim-born player won the Fritz Walter gold medal in the U17 age group and that was followed by a first call-up to the U21 squad under Stefan Kuntz.
“Florian is one of the outstanding talents in Germany. He already has experience in the Bundesliga, the Europa League and the DFB Cup,” said Kuntz. “After discussions with Joti Chatzialexiou and Meikel Schönweitz, plus the club, we decided to call him up to the U21s to further help his development.”
The Germany youngsters play Moldova in Wiesbaden on 3 September in a qualifier for the U21 European Championships (kick-off: 18.15 CET). Five days later, they face Belgium in Leuven (16.00 CET/both games on ProSieben MAXX). If Wirtz plays, then he will be the youngest-ever Germany U21 international. In addition to the striker, Kuntz has also called up Werkself keeper Lennart Grill. Grill already has two international caps with the U21s.
For Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic the new season starts with a game in the Nations League. The Werkself duo are set to play for Austria against Norway in Oslo on 4 September (kick-off: 20.45 CET). Three days later, ‘Baumi’ and Co. entertain Rumania in Klagenfurt. That match also kicks off at 20.45 CET.
Lukas Hradecky and returnee Joel Pohjanpalo will represent Finland in Helsinki on 3 September. They play Wales at 20.45 CET. That is followed on 6 September (18.00 CET) by an away game for the Finns in Ireland. The venue is the capital Dublin.
Tin Jedvaj and his Croatia teammates have two real crackers in the Nations League. Portugal are first up in Porto on 5 September, and World Cup winners France in Paris three days later (both games kick off at 20.45 CET). Moussa Diaby with France and Panos Retsos with Greece, like Wirtz and Grill, are also set to play in two U21 Euro qualifiers.
Werkself players called up:
Lennart Grill, Florian Wirtz (both Germany U21s)
Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic (both Austria)
Lukas Hradecky, Joel Pohjanpalo (both Finland)
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia)
Moussa Diaby (France U21)
Panos Retsos (Greece U21)
Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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Special events for a special match: Bayer 04 are offering fans a varied programme of events at tonight’s home game in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga against German champions Bayern Munich (kick-off: 18:00 CEST). Alongside a number of interactive activities, events to mark the DFB Sustainability matchday are also planned around the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Read on in the matchday news ahead of the clash with FC Bayern.
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Once again, two Fritz Walter Gold Medals are heading to Leverkusen: Bayer 04 new signing Kennet Eichhorn and Francis Onyeka, a product of the Werkself youth set-up, currently on loan at SV Elversberg, were honoured for their performances during the 2025/26 season. The DFB announced the awards on Monday, 14 September. The Fritz Walter Medal is the most prestigious individual award in German youth football.
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Following two close encounters against VfL Wolfsburg and away to TSG Hoffenheim, the Bayer 04 Women face another top side on Monday night. The Werkself host German double winners Bayern Munich at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 18:00 CEST to round off matchday 4 in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. Head coach Roberto Pätzold is counting on another spirited performance from his team.
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