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)
Ibrahim Maza joined Bayer 04 from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2025. The youngster from Berlin developed into a difference-maker in his first season with the Werkself. Find out what makes the highly talented player tick in this very personal interview. Among other things, Maza talks about his Algerian-Vietnamese-German home, the role of his family and the importance of Islam for him both in his private life and in football...
Show more
Bayer 04’s Ibrahim Maza is among the three nominees for the Bundesliga’s 2025/26 Rookie of the Season award. Fans have until 23:59 CEST on Thursday, 7 May to cast their votes in the official Bundesliga app.
Show more
Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 4-0 win at SGS Essen on the 24th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.
Show more
The Bayer 04 Women have kept their chance of qualifying for the Champions League alive in the Bundesliga run-in. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 4-0 at SGS Essen on Sunday afternoon, improving their record from last season to 14 wins this term. With 43 points, the Werkself equalled another record from the 2024/25 season and at the same time reduced the gap to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt to two points, at least for tonight. Loreen Bender (4’), Kristin Kögel (41’, 68’) and Cornelia Kramer (89’) scored for the Black and Reds, who dominated the game to record their fourth win on the bounce.
Show more
