Experts, club representatives and fans have voted Havertz 'EA SPORTS Player of the Month' for May for his impressive performances for the Werkself in the Bundesliga. The 20-year-old received the trophy at the BayArena at the beginning of the week. "For me, the success of the team comes first. But, of course, you're happy to accept awards like this. It's good feedback that shows you've played well in that month," said Havertz.
The Werkself player scored five goals in the first four league games after the restart and was voted for ahead of Achraf Hakimi (Borussia Dortmund), Christoph Baumgartner (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) plus Joshua Kimmich and Benjamin Pavard (both FC Bayern).
Central striker Lucas Alario, who started all of the last three matches and scored two goals, is not in the squad for tomorrow's game against FC Köln (kick-off: 20.30 CET). The Argentinian received a fifth yellow card for the season in the away game at Schalke 04 (1-1) and is therefore sidelined for the Rhineland clash.
After his move from SV Grün-Weiß Brauweiler, Florian Wirtz played for the youth teams at FC Köln for ten years where he also became a Germany youth international. Last winter, the Puhlheim-born player finally opted for a move to Bayer 04. Peter Bosz quickly brought him into the first-team squad – and ensured that Wirtz could make his Bundesliga debut. The rest is history: At the age of 17 years and 15 days the Werkself whippersnapper was the third youngest player in the history of Germany's top flight. Thanks to his goal against FC Bayern, the forward can also claim to be "the youngest Bundesliga goalscorer of all time."
Ahead of the first clash with his former club, FC Köln sporting director Horst Heldt shared his views on Wirtz. "I'm happy for Florian and I assume he will play. He will definitely want to show what he can do. We wish him all the best for the future," said the 50-year-old who added with a wink of the eye: "If he thinks he has to perform well against us then he'll get a kick up the behind."
Good news from the Bailey household: The 22-year-old and his partner welcomed their son Leo into the world on Sunday morning. All three are happy and healthy. The Jamaican left his homeland in 2011 for Austria and, via Slovakia and Belgium, he joined Bayer 04 in January 2017. He has played for the Black and Reds ever since. Congratulations, Leon!
The DFB has confirmed timings for the final matchdays for the Bayer 04 Women in the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga. Tomorrow's away game at bottom-of-the-table FF USV Jena (kick-off: 15.00 CET) is followed on Sunday, 21 June, by a crucial clash at Kurtekotten in the relegation battle. The Black and Reds entertain the FC Köln women's team. The team from Cologne currently have one more point. Both teams are just above the position currently held by MSV Duisburg – who are level on points with Achim Feifel's team – in the first of the two relegation spots.
On the final matchday, the Bayer 04 Women are away to the serial champions VfL Wolfsburg who, in all probability, are set to secure their sixth league title in succession this week. The kick-off in the final league game of the season on Sunday, 28 June, is at 14.00 CET at the AOK Stadium. All matches are played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Fitness coach Daniel Jouvin has worked under the Bayer Cross for nine years. 'Giga', as he's known, is anything but a giant physically with his height of 1.65 metres, but his quality as a fitness and rehab coach puts him amongst the very best in the business. Back in his home country Brazil, Jouvin trained with famous doctors and physiotherapists and he also worked for a big club Flamengo Rio de Janeiro and the Brazil national team. The South American originally came to Bayer 04 as the personal fitness coach of Renato Augusto. He quickly extended his repertoire to the whole team; as fitness coach but also as a contact and help with integration for the South Americans in the squad. 'Giga' is 42 today. Bayer 04 wishes him: Many happy returns!
Following the international break, the Bayer 04 women’s team face their next head-to-head clash in the race for a top spot in the Bundesliga. In Saturday’s home match (14:00 CEST), the fourth-placed side host third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Head coach Roberto Pätzold is well aware of the great opportunity this presents for his team.
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Bayer 04 make their first trip to Poland for over 30 years as they face Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off at 18:45 CEST on Thursday, but the team will be preparing for the action on Wednesday with training, travel and pre-match press conferences. We’ll bring you all the latest news here…
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Bayer 04 remain unbeaten in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. After winning the opener against NK Celje, the Werkself followed that up on Thursday night with a 4–0 win away at the Polish champions Lech Poznan. Patrik Schick, who came on as a substitute early in the game, scored twice from the penalty spot, and Malik Tillman also found the back of the net before half-time. The second half was a more subdued affair, with Ibrahim Maza scoring late on to seal the final 4-0 scoreline.
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Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.
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