"Kumho Tyre has been a global player in tyre production for many years and, with their ambitious targets, perfectly suited to an internationally ambitious club like Bayer 04. We are very much looking forward to this exciting and multifaceted partnership," said Fernando Carro, chairman of the board at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who at this point would like to thank the Werkself marketing partner Lagardère Sports for their support in bringing about this business.
Jun Ro Song (pictured left), managing director of Kumho Tyre Europe GmbH, explained the reasons for the link-up: "We are happy to enter this new partnership with Bayer 04 Leverkusen as the club stands for reliability, ambition and international prestige. Those are decisive criteria for our partnerships in sport. Following our sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, we are now happy to have found another top European club in Bayer 04 Leverkusen. We hope to significantly increase our brand recognition with the help of this partnership."
As an official Premium Partner, Kumho Tyres will have a comprehensive presence on the digital hoardings along the whole side of the pitch over the course of their two-year contract. In addition, two Kumho branded 3D-cam carpets will be visible at the BayArena in the TV-relevant area, and from the new season the digital scoreboard will also bear the Kumho Tyre logo. The sponsorship package also includes premium hospitality allocations and a comprehensive, international incorporation into club media activities (website, social media etc).
Info on Kumho Tyre:
The Kumho Tyre Company with its headquarters in Seoul was founded in 1960 and is now one of the leading tyre manufacturers worldwide with 60 million tyres sold and an annual turnover of over €2 billion. Over 10,000 employees worldwide develop, produce and sell Kumho tyres for cars, vans and trucks. As a global player, Kumho has production facilities in Korea, Vietnam, China and the USA. In addition, Kumho has research and development centres in Korea, China, Europe and North America. In the summer of 2018 the Chinese manufacturer Doublestar Tire, one of the biggest tyre manufacturers in China, took up 45% of the shares in Kumho Tyre and is now the most important and biggest shareholder at Kumho. All tyres for the European market are developed in the European development centre in Mörfelden-Walldorf, near Frankfurt am Main.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
Show more
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
Show more
Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
Show more
Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
Show more
