The big moment came at exactly 22.37 CET and Emrehan Gedikli was unable to hide a little smile. Head coach Peter Bosz again called up the young striker to his squad for the home game against Hapoel Be’er Sheva (4-1) – and Gedikli came on with ten minutes to play make his first team debut at the age of 17 years, seven months and one day.
And at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre the staff were getting right behind homegrown talent Gedikli who is currently completing a course as a sports and fitness sales executive at Bayer 04. Thomas Eichin, head of the youth section: "I'm incredibly happy that Emrehan has been able to make the step up. He's worked hard for it. The lad has been with us since the U8s and now is suddenly playing alongside the senior players in the Europa League at the age of 17."
Florian Wirtz was even younger than Gedikli when he made his first-team debut for the Black and Reds. Our number 27 is the youngest Bundesliga first team player of all time at Bayer 04 and, in spite of being just 17 years old, has made twelve appearances across all competitions this season. No wonder the market value of this year's winner of the gold Fritz Walter medal (for the U17 age group) has been increased. The website transfermarkt.de recently valued Wirtz at €24 million. The Germany U21 international has therefore more than doubled his market value, which was previously set at €10 million.
Another four Werkself players have also earned an upgrade for their performances: Edmond Tapsoba (+8 to 30 million), Daley Sinkgraven (+2.5 to 7.5 million), Moussa Diaby (+4 to 36 million) and Lucas Alario (+6.5 to 20 million.).
You have decided: Leon Bailey is your Man of the Match for the 4-1 home win against Hapoel Be’er Sheva. The Jamaican, who scored a brace in the game in Israel, made it 2-0 with an assist from Wendell. Congratulations, Leon!
After the Europa League victory against Be’er Sheva, Bayer 04 are back in action in the Bundesliga. Hertha Berlin visit the BayArena on Sunday 29 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET/live on Sky and on Werks11 Radio at bayer04.de plus on the Bayer 04 app). The team from the capital will wear black armbands for this match in memory of former president Heinz Warneke who passed away last Sunday at the age of 89.
The Nerazzurri are in town: Today, Tuesday 10 December, Bayer 04 entertain the reigning champions of Italy Inter Milan on Matchday 6 in the UEFA Champions League (kick-off: 21.00 CET/live on DAZN and on Werkself Radio). Read on for the latest information on the home game at the BayArena.
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The Bayer 04 U19 team lost 1-0 to Inter Milan on the sixth and final matchday in the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2024/25. The only goal of the game was scored just after the hour mark. While the side from North Italy have finished top in the league phase with a maximum points return, the Leverkusen team appeared to have just missed out on the knockout stages of the European competition. There is faint hope looking to several games to follow where results are needed to go the way of the Werkself.
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Italian teams are known for being strong in defence. The fact that Inter Milan, the next opponents for the Werkself in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, 10 December (kick-off: 20.45 CET), have not conceded a single goal in their last five matches is impressive. Will the visitors' keeper Yann Sommer be able to keep a clean sheet at the BayArena against Florian Wirtz and Co.? The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Werkself are away to Borussia Dortmund on Bundesliga Matchday 16. The game at the Signal Iduna Park on Friday, 10 January 2025, kicks off at 20.30 CET. Read on for information on ticket sales.
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