
Fifth place in the vote for Player of the Season goes to right-back Jeremie Frimpong – congratulations. The Werkself number 30 made 34 appearances for the Black and Reds across all competitions, scored two goals, provided eight assists and he conquered the hearts of Bayer 04 supporters with his easy-going and natural approach.
On the club's channels we bring you a video clip HERE to watch and enjoy. The other placings will be announced over the coming days with the winner of the vote announced on Friday 17 June.
Sardar Azmoun is currently away on international duty with Iran. Azmoun & Co. lost 2-1 to Algeria in a friendly on Sunday night 12 June. The goals for Algeria were scored by Benayad (44’) and Amoura (83’). The Werkself striker was in the starting line-up and was substituted at half-time.
Bayer 04 defender Jonathan Tah is currently on the road with Germany in the UEFA Nations League. The Werkself number four could make an appearance in Germany's next game against Italy on Tuesday 14 June – together with his former Leverkusen teammates Julian Brandt and Benjamin Henrichs who are also potential starters. The game at Borussia Park mention Gladbach kicks off at 20.45 CEST.
A draw in the game in Italy was followed by another against England. In Group 3 of League A the team under coach Hansi Flick are currently in third place on two points behind Italy (four points) and Hungary (three points). England complete the group with one point.
Former Werkself player Michael Ballack is set to be a pundit on the streaming service DAZN in the forthcoming 2022/23 season. The former Germany captain and Bayer 04 midfielder (1999-2002 and 2010-2012) will appear on live broadcasts of Bundesliga and Champions League matches. Ballack has already been a TV pundit for the USA sports broadcaster ESPN and the streaming service MagentaTV..
The former Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno is a target for newly promoted Fulham according to his adviser and numerous media reports but as things stand he is set to complete his contract with Arsenal that runs to 2023. The 30-year-old made a total of eight appearances for the Gunners in the 2021/22 season. Leno played for the Werkself from 2011 to 2018.
Bayer 04 congratulate today's birthday boy Josef Nehl on his 61st birthday. 'Jupp' played for VfL Bochum in the 1986/87 campaign. The Aachen-born player signed for Leverkusen in the winter of the 1991/92 season and he remained there until the end of his playing career in 1996. Nehl made a total of 72 appearances for the Black and Reds and scored six goals. He won the DFB Cup with the Werkself in 1993.
The former player has been the CEO of Sportcast since 2006 and he has made an important contribution to building up the DFL TV production company.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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