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!
High spirits and previously untold stories: Around 100 Bayer 04 fans packed the Schwadbud fan pub in the east stand of the BayArena on Thursday evening to be there in person for the first instalment of the new series of events entitled “Rudi lädt ein” (Rudi invites you). They listened intently as long-serving Werkself players Gonzalo Castro and Stefan Kießling chatted with record appearance-maker Rüdiger Vollborn and presenter and stadium announcer Tobias Ufer about their many years together at the club, shared amusing anecdotes and revealed dressing room secrets. Anyone who missed the premiere can already look forward to the second instalment – on 12 May, Rudi will be testing the expert knowledge of Bayer 04 fans during a quiz night.
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The Bundesliga home game against VfL Wolfsburg in the first half of the season was one of those classic ‘days to forget’ for Bayer 04 Women. It started with goalkeeper Charlotte Voll being shown a red card in the first minute of the game, and following a further sending-off, coach Roberto Pätzold's 9-women side ended up losing 5-1 to last season's runners-up. At 18.30 CET on Sunday, they'll have the chance to exact revenge at the AOK Stadium - and pick up valuable points in the race for third place.
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Sofie Zdebel is up for the Goal of the Month award for February on ARD-Sportschau. Fans have until 21 March (19:00 CET) to vote for the Germany U23 international's volley to make it 2-0 in the Bayer 04 Women's derby against FC Köln (2-1).
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen are further expanding their partner network: The feed manufacturer PerNaturam is an official sponsor of the Bayer 04 Womens team. The partnership opens up a wide range of opportunities for the company to position its brand in the Bundesliga environment.
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Do you dream of wearing the Bayer cross on your chest? To play in black and red like your role models Loreen Bender, Cornelia Kramer, Kristin Kögel and co. from the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga? Then take your chance now! Our female youth teams are once again on the lookout for new talent. That's why Bayer 04 are organising a talent day on 12 April 2026 for the first time this year with trials for female juniors.
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