The two oldest Bayer 04 youth teams began the new NRW League Cup with convincing wins. The U19s under head coach Sven Hübscher entertained Alemannia Aachen in the opening fixture in Group 3 – and they secured a convincing 5-0 victory. The goalscorers included three youth players who took part in the first team training camp in Salzburger Land a few weeks ago.
The first goal of the new season was netted by Joshua Eze just before half-time at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre (36'). At the start of the second 45, Ayman Aourir made it 2-0 (46') before Zidan Sertdemir took centre stage. The 16-year-old summer signing from top-flight Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, who has completed every training session with the first team, netted a hat-trick in eleven minutes (53', 60', 64').
The U19s are back in action in the NRW League Cup on Friday, 13 August, with a home game against Preußen Münster. The kick-off at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium is at 18.30 CEST.
Like the older youth age group, the Leverkusen U17s are top of Group 2 after matchday one. Thanks to a 4-0 home win against Alemannia Aachen, the team coached by Jan Hoepner and Thomas Zdebel have taken the first step towards the semi-finals. The goals for the Werkself youth side were scored by Akim Kister (28’), Raoul Petak (37’), Enes Yilmaz (56’) and Julius Bugenhagen (75’).
Preußen Münster are also the next opponents for the U17s. The second group match is away from home on Thursday, 12 August at 13.00 CEST.
Following the focused performance in the DFB Cup tie at Lokomotive Leipzig (3-0), the Werkself began the new week with a day off training. The first session is set for Tuesday with the focus moving exclusively to the Bundesliga opener away to FC Union Berlin. Bayer 04 will travel to the capital on Friday in search of the first three points of the new league campaign the day after with a 15.30 CEST kick-off at the Alte Försterei Stadium.
As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Monday, the second round of the DFB Cup will be drawn on Sunday, 29 August. The draw will begin at 18.30 CEST in the WDR studio in Cologne where the ARD Sportschau is broadcast live. The second round matches will be played on 26 and 27 October.
Bayer 04 went through in the cup competition with a comfortable 3-0 victory away to North East Regional League Lokomotive Leipzig. The match report can be read HERE.
The Werkself player Jeremie Frimpong describes his FIFA Ultimate Team as "quick" and "powerful". Bayer 04 TV asked the 20-year-old right-back to introduce his dream team on FIFA. The players he chose can be seen on the club’s YouTube channel. HERE is the link to the video.
The week starts again with Black and Red congratulations: Panagiotis ‘Panos’ Retsos celebrated his 23rd birthday on Monday. The defender joined Leverkusen in 2017 from Olympiakos as a champion of Greece. After going out on loan to Saint-Étienne last year, the South African-born Retsos is again showing his potential under the Bayer Cross. After time on the pitch in the pre-season friendlies, the versatile defender went the full distance in the DFB Cup tie against Lokomotive Leipzig. Many happy returns on your birthday, Panos.
Another player, who wore the Black and Red until recently, became a year old on Monday and is now 24: Leon Bailey. The Jamaican joined Bayer 04 in January 2017. A few days ago, the winger moved on to the Premier League after four and a half years in the Bundesliga – he is now at Aston Villa. Many happy returns and much success, Leon.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will to have manage without forward Eliesse Ben Seghir. The Morocco international suffered a ligament injury in his left ankle before the AFCON final defeat against Senegal (0-1 a.e.t.).
Show more
The VBL Club Championship 2025/26 continues. Tonight, 27 January (live on Twitch and on the Bayer 04 app from 18:00 CET), the Leverkusen eSports team will play the remaining three matches in the online preliminary round of Showdown Four. They are up against FC Kaiserslautern, SC Freiburg and the current club champions and Showdown Three winners RB Leipzig, with whom Bayer 04, club runners-up and Showdown One winners, shared some memorable moments, especially last year. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Welcome to Leverkusen, Jonas Omlin. Bayer 04 have signed the 32-year-old goalkeeper on loan from Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach until the end of the season. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes described the Swiss shot stopper, signed by the Werkself in reaction to the long-term absence of first choice keeper Mark Flekken, as an "internationally experienced keeper." Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the new signing, who will wear the number 18 jersey.
Show more
Under the motto ‘Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26’, Bayer 04 are turning this season's UEFA Champions League season into a festival. In addition to a Spotify playlist that fans can use to get in the mood for the Champions League nights, there is also a tour pass with stickers for the respective UCL matches exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members. These could be picked up in the respective weeks of the matches. The sticker for the final clash in the league phase (Villarreal, 28 January, 21:00 CET) is now available at the Fanwelt. The competition for all diligent sticker collectors is also now open. Read on for further information.
Show more
