Florian Wirtz had an impressive season in 2021/22 before his torn cruciate in the derby against FC Köln in March. The reporters at the sports magazine Sportbild have named 19-year-old as the player of the season at the Werkself. The attacking midfielder has “finally developed into a leader on the pitch.” The Bayer 04 number 27 has underlined that the impression with numbers: Wirtz has been directly involved in 17 goals in 24 league games. The Germany international scored seven goals and provided ten assists. The right-footer scored or set up a goal at an average of every 104 minutes.
Another Bundesliga player previously at Leverkusen also impressed the Sportbild editors. Goalkeeper Marcel Lotka was named as player of the season at Hertha Berlin. The 20-year-old spent three years under the Bayer Cross from 2017 before signing for the second team at Hertha in the summer of 2020. Lotka made eight appearances at the start of the season and then went on to make his Bundesliga debut against SC Freiburg on matchday 24. The Poland U21 international has since become first choice in goal and has only missed one league game. The Duisburg-born keeper suffered a broken nose and concussion in the game against Borussia Dortmund last Saturday (14 May). It remains to be seen whether he will be available for tomorrow’s Bundesliga play-off against Hamburg SV (19 May).
Florian Wirtz had an impressive season in 2021/22 before his torn cruciate in the derby against FC Köln in March. The reporters at the sports magazine Sportbild have named 19-year-old as the player of the season at the Werkself. The attacking midfielder has “finally developed into a leader on the pitch.” The Bayer 04 number 27 has underlined that the impression with numbers: Wirtz has been directly involved in 17 goals in 24 league games. The Germany international scored seven goals and provided ten assists. The right-footer scored or set up a goal at an average of every 104 minutes.
Another Bundesliga player previously at Leverkusen also impressed the Sportbild editors. Goalkeeper Marcel Lotka was named as player of the season at Hertha Berlin. The 20-year-old spent three years under the Bayer Cross from 2017 before signing for the second team at Hertha in the summer of 2020. Lotka made eight appearances at the start of the season and then went on to make his Bundesliga debut against SC Freiburg on matchday 24. The Poland U21 international has since become first choice in goal and has only missed one league game. The Duisburg-born keeper suffered a broken nose and concussion in the game against Borussia Dortmund last Saturday (14 May). It remains to be seen whether he will be available for tomorrow’s Bundesliga play-off against Hamburg SV (19 May).
After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
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As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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The fans have spoken: Ibrahim Maza has been voted Bayer 04 men’s Player of the Season for 2025/26. The 20-year-old won the club’s annual poll with more than a third of the total votes. Vanessa Fudalla, for her part, has been voted Bayer 04 women’s Player of the Season for 2025/26 by the fans. For both Maza and Fudalla, the past season was their first playing for the Werkself.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract of midfielder Francis Onyeka, who was on loan to Bundesliga 2 side VfL Bochum last season. The 19-year-old’s new contract now runs until 30 June 2032. At the same time, the Leverkusen homegrown player will join Bundesliga newcomers SV 07 Elversberg on a one-year loan for the coming season.
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