The team led by head coach Peter Bosz are preparing for the second Bundesliga home game in succession in icy temperatures. FSV Mainz 05 are the visitors on Saturday, 13 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET). The limited number of persons permitted at the BayArena due to the coronavirus pandemic will include Joachim ‘Jogi’ Löw.
This will be the first visit by the Germany coach to a match at Leverkusen since the start of the pandemic. The reason: The DFL hygiene protocol did not allow members of the DFB management to attend Bundesliga games until a few matchdays ago.
Löw’s assistant coach Marcus Sorg was at the BayArena last weekend for the 5-2 home win for the Werkself against VfB Stuttgart.
Florian Wirtz has been playing for Bayer 04 for just over a year. His development during this time is more than impressive: Joining from the youth set-up at FC Köln, the technically gifted offensive player quickly convinced head coach Peter Bosz of his ability. After nine first team appearances in the 2019/20 season and the departure of Kai Havertz to Chelsea in the summer, the management at Bayer 04 looked to play Wirtz in an attacking midfield role – and the 17-year-old has repaid that confidence with a lot of good performances.
The youngster, born in Pulheim, has made 24 appearances this season. Thanks to his goal against Stuttgart – his seventh this term – Wirtz is the only U18 player to have scored five goals in the Bundesliga. Reason enough for transfermarkt.de to increase the market value of the Werkself player. For last year's winner of the gold Fritz Walter Medal that meant an increase from €24-€45 million. Wirtz is now the most valuable 17-year-old worldwide.
Wirtz is nowhere near the only Leverkusen player whose market value has risen according to recent Bundesliga updates from transfermarkt.de. Central defender Edmond Tapsoba is now worth €40 million (+10 million), the two wingers Moussa Diaby (+ 2 to 38 million) and Leon Bailey (+5.5 to 35 million) have also seen an increase. Other adjustments: Nadiem Amiri (+6 to 22 million), new signing Jeremie Frimpong (+6 to 10 million) and Daley Sinkgraven (+1.5 to 9 million).
The youth players Emrehan Gedikli, Cem Tuna Türkmen and Samed Onur have also been given a market value for the first time in their careers. The 17-year-old centre forward Gedikli is rated at €750,000 and the two 18-year-old midfielders at €400,000.
Last weekend, Moussa Diaby posed huge problems to the Stuttgart defence with his inimitable tempo. The France U21 international provided the assists at 3-1 and 4-1 and thereby played a big part in the 5-2 home win. The games manufacturer EA Sports has rewarded the performance of the Werkself player with a place in the Team of the Week 20 on FIFA Ultimate Team. Congratulations, Moussa.
At the age of 19, Jonathan Tah joined Bayer 04 from Hamburg SV in 2015. Since then, the imposing central defender at the Werkself has developed into a regular starter and he has also played for the national team. 'Jona' is 25 years old today (Thursday). Congratulations on your big day.
The Hamburg-born defender could have a second reason to celebrate this week if he plays against Mainz 05: It would be his 150th Bundesliga appearance for Leverkusen.
Two other former Werkself players celebrate their birthdays on this Thursday. Markus Happe, DFB Cup winner in 1993, is 49 today. Ralf Falkenmayer, UEFA Cup winner in 1988, has his 58th birthday. Bayer 04 wish both many happy returns.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
Show more
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
Show more
When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
Show more
To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
Show more
