Referee Tobias Stieler is in charge of the Rhine derby between FC Köln and the Werkself on Wednesday 16 December (kick-off: 20.30 CET/live on Sky and on Werks11 Radio). The lawyer from Hamburg has refereed 20 games involving the Black and Reds to date with Bayer 04 winning 16 of them (two draws). Stieler showed 20 yellow cards in those games and sent one Werkself player off for two yellow card offences.
A successful start for the 'Bayer 04 surgery': Virtual meetings have become commonplace since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In these times where face-to-face meetings with more than one person in a room are to be avoided, this is a helpful alternative – which the Bayer 04 fan liaison section also sees as important. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, and Meinolf Sprink (director of fans/community) recently held a remote discussion with Werkself fans on current issues relating to Bayer 04. In the coming months there will be other surgeries with Werkself supporters, different hosts and different subjects.
For the thirteenth time, the Leverkusen community foundation have carried out their 'Sterntaler' event. The aim is to provide joy to children and aged persons in the city. Staff and players from Bayer 04 have again taken part in the project this year and fulfilled the wishes of 134 Sterntaler. "It's a matter close to our hearts every year and it goes without saying that we are happy to participate in the 'Sterntaler' event to show our commitment to the local community," said Meinolf Sprink, director of fans/community at Bayer 04.
As announced by the German Football League (DFL) on Wednesday, the transfer window in Germany will be open from 2 January to 1 February. Winter signings can only be played from matchday 15 (8 to 11 January). The DFL will only issue a players permit if the relevant player can demonstrate they have the required number of negative coronavirus tests according to the pandemic level.
The Werkself return in the New Year on Saturday 2 January (kick-off: 15.30 CET) with a Bundesliga away fixture at Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday 14.
A new look and new kit supplier for the 2025/26 campaign: Bayer 04 in tandem with sports equipment manufacturer New Balance present the official kit for the Leverkusen eSports players the coming season. New partner Sinology appears on the top right of the jersey. Menswear outfitters Lerros is still the main eSports sponsor and Niedax remains the sleeve partner. The jersey is available now from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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The Werkself will welcome Serie A newcomers Pisa SC to the BayArena for a friendly on Tuesday, 5 August (kick-off: 18:00 CEST / stadium opens: 15:00) as part of the season opener celebrations. Bayer 04 will offer fans a lively and varied supporting programme on the stadium concourse. Ahead of kick-off, both the men's and women's senior squads will be introduced on the pitch.
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Bosnia U19 international Kerim Alajbegovic is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth set-up to Red Bull Salzburg. The talented attacking midfielder has signed a long-term contract with the Austrian club. At the same time, the works club secured a buy-back option for the 17-year-old, who was one of the mainstays of the Leverkusen U19s.
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Preparations for the 2025/26 season at Bayer 04 start next Monday, 7 July, with the first team and youth players training together. Without the international players who were involved with their national teams at the end of last season, new head coach Erik ten Hag will welcome a group of senior and youth players to the first open training session one week ahead of the departure to the training camp in Rio de Janeiro. After the official welcome in the dressing room, the Werkself players will start the session in the shadow of the BayArena on 7 July at 14:00 CEST.
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