
Bayer 04 stands for diversity, inclusion and integration and on the Holocaust Memorial Day as with any other day is clearly against every form of violence, extremism, racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination.
With the Day of remembrance in German football, DFB, state associations, professional and amateur clubs remember the victims of National Socialism. The day of remembrance was introduced by the 'Nie Wieder' (Never again) campaign to carry the message from the survivors of the former concentration camp at Dachau into the present and future.
On this day of remembrance, the German Football Museum in Dortmund has published an online biographical dictionary of persecuted Jewish football players, which Werkself legend Rüdiger Vollborn helped to compile. "Never forget!" has been created in cooperation with the network of German football museums and club archives and contains over 200 life stories and destinies. The digital collection can be accessed HERE free of charge.
At the Africa Cup of Nations, the Ivory Coast lost 5-4 on penalties in the Round of 16 against Egypt including Liverpool star Mo Salah and are now out of the competition. Werkself defender Odilon Kossounou did not feature.
Burkina Faso, with Bayer 04 player Edmond Tapsoba, are already through to the quarter-finals at AFCON with the next match on Sunday evening. Tapsoba and Co. went through with a 7-6 win on penalties against Gabon. The Black and Red number 12 played the full 90 minutes and also converted his penalty in style. They face Tunisia in the quarter-finals with the FC Köln player Ellyes Skhiri in their ranks. The kick-off on Saturday 29 January is at 20.00 CET. It will be broadcast live by the streaming service DAZN.
Bayer 04 congratulates Martin Kree on his 57th birthday. The former Werkself player wore the Black and Red shirt from 1989 to 1994. The central defender made 189 appearances, scored 27 goals and won the DFB Cup in 1993. The left-footer joined Borussia Dortmund for the 1994/95 season where he went on to win the Champions League and the World Club title three years later. Many happy returns.

Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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French forward Moussa Diaby is returning to the Werkself. Bayer 04 have reached an agreement with Diaby and his Saudi club Al-Ittihad regarding a transfer for the striker, who has signed a contract with Leverkusen running until 30 June 2031. He will again wear the number 19 jersey.
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