Jonathan Tah has played every minute of the Bundesliga season to date. No question that the 25-year-old has developed into the undisputed boss of the defence since the start of the season. In last Saturday's second half of the season opener against Union Berlin the Black and Reds number four did not put a foot wrong again in defence and he secured a deserved point for the Werkself with his powerful headed goal on 84 minutes for the final scoreline of 2-2. In our eyes, he fully deserves his place in the football journal kicker German international players Team of the Matchday. Congratulations Jona.
Sky commentator Marcus Lindemann was back on the microphone. The 56-year-old commentated on the clash between the Werkself and Union – it was his first appearance after a long time out. Lindemann gave the reason for his absence over the last weeks and months the day before the match. In an operation, a facial nerve "came out in sympathy" and that led to the right side of his face being paralysed. Lindemann is however hopeful that the situation is temporary. Welcome back.
One day after the clash with the Irons, the first team players in the starting line-up had a recovery session while the other players came together for normal training on pitch one. There was no training on Monday with preparations for matchday 19 beginning tomorrow on Tuesday: The team under head coach Gerardo Seoane are away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, 15 January. The kick-off against the team placed twelfth in the Bundesliga at Borussia Park is at 18.30 CET.
Edmond Tapsoba will not be available for the clash with the Foals. The Werkself central defender is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Sunday night saw Burkina Faso start the tournament with a 2-1 defeat against hosts Cameroon – without Tapsoba. The 22-year-old was not in the squad for the West African side. The next match in Group A is set for Thursday, 13 January (kick-off: 20.00 CET). That game is against Cape Verde. The final match of the group stage for Burkina Faso is against Ethiopia on Monday, 17 January (kick-off: 17.00 CET).
Tapsoba’s Bayer 04 teammate Odilon Kossounou is also at the African tournament with the Ivory Coast. The summer signing starts the tournament with his national team on Wednesday, 12 January (kick-off: 20.00 CET) against Equatorial Guinea. The Ivorians in Group B also face Sierra Leone (16 January) and Algeria (20 January). All matches in the Africa Cup of Nations are being broadcast on the streaming service DAZN.
Not a new signing but a new name nevertheless in the Bayer 04 Women's squad: Goalkeeper Frederike Abt married recently and is now called Friederike Repohl. The 27-year-old joined Leverkusen from VfL Wolfsburg in the summer. Congratulations on your marriage, Rike.
The new calendar year for the Bayer 04 eSports players starts with an extra special clash: Fabian ‘B04_DUBZJE’ de Cae and Co. have a rearranged fixture on Monday night in the VBL Club Championship against FC Köln. The derby on matchday 11 in December was postponed.
The Werkself eSports players are currently seventh in the VBL CC and the rivals from Cologne are two places behind with three points less. The match kicks off at 18.00 and the rearranged fixture will be broadcast as usual on the Bayer 04 club Twitch channel.
Eastern Germany's most successful talk show celebrated an anniversary last Friday night – the MDR production of Riverboat had its 30th anniversary. Leverkusen sporting managing director Rudi Völler was one of many VIP guests. In an extensive interview with comedian Matze Knoop, the 61-year-old talked about his first matches as a football player in the German Democratic Republic and what he spent his first wages on back then.
The whole broadcast of the anniversary Riverboat – Talk show is available HERE. The interview with Völler starts at 1 minute 47.
From his arrival at the airport, the medical and contract signing, right through to photo shoots, his very own trading card and his first interview at the BayArena: Werkself TV followed new signing Afonso Moreira up close on his first day in Leverkusen. In the interview, the 21-year-old Portuguese left-winger, who has joined the Werkself from Lyon, talks about his excitement ahead of joining Bayer 04 and the Bundesliga, as well as his conversation with head coach Carles Martínez. Moreira also reveals the secret behind his iconic goal celebration – which he intends to perform “as often as possible” at the BayArena next season...
Show more
A new signing for the U19s: Bayer 04 have signed winger Clinton Wilson from Schalke 04. The 18-year-old previously played for Leverkusen youth teams from January to June 2024.
Show more
After eight years, Ida Daedelow is set to leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 18-year-old, whose original contract was due to run to 2027, is joining second-division side VfL Bochum.
Show more
As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
Show more
