In the vote for the Newcomer of the Season held by the VDV players union, Florian Wirtz came out on top with 21% of the votes to pick up the 'Silver Arrow' award as the best young player in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season. Our number 27 beat some stiff competition: In second place was the new Dortmund player Nico Schlotterbeck (16%) and third place went to Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich (15%).
And that's not all: The 19-year-old also made it into the VDV Bundesliga team. Together with teammate Patrik Schick (36%), Wirtz (37%) was named in the VDV 11 of the current season. Also in the side: Mark Flekken (SC Freiburg, 24%), David Raum (1899 Hoffenheim, 32% ), Nico Schlotterbeck (SC Freiburg, 80%), Niklas Süle (Bayern München, 31%), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich, 52%), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund, 47%), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig, 68%), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, 84%) and Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund, 35%).
The VDV team is decided by votes from all players in the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2, League 3 and the Regional Leagues plus all other VDV members entitled to vote.
The BILD tabloid has produced a top 50 of all former and current players at the 18 Bundesliga clubs. The Brazilian Lucio came out top for the Werkself. The powerful defender stood out with his leadership qualities and his uncompromising challenges. The 2002 World Cup winner made 122 appearances for the Black and Reds from January 2001 to July 2004.
The highest placed Werkself player from the current Leverkusen first team squad is Florian Wirtz. The 19-year-old is in tenth place and he makes it into the top 11 of all time – alongside Bayer 04 honorary captains Ulf Kirsten, Rüdiger Vollborn and Bernd Schneider.
Bayer 04 congratulate Thomas Zdebel: The youth coach today celebrates his 49th birthday. The former Poland international joined Leverkusen from TV Herkenrath as a U17 coach in 2019 after having played for the Werkself from January 2009 to the summer of 2010. He wore the Bayer 04 shirt for 18 months in twelve Bundesliga matches, one DFB Cup game for the Black and Reds and he was also in the side that made it to the DFB Cup final in 2009. Zdebel is still playing for the Werkself Veterans team. Many happy returns, Thomas.
Samed Yesil today celebrates his 28th birthday. The German-Turkish centre-forward progressed through all the Werkself youth teams before joining Liverpool for the 2012/13 season. The central striker went on to play for FC Luzern, Panionios, Ankara Demirspor, KFC Uerdingen and VfB Homberg. The six foot tall striker from Düsseldorf is currently playing for the Oberliga club DJK St. Tönis. Many happy returns.
The second friendly and the first goal for the Bayer 04 Women: The Werkself just missed out on their first win in the preseason away to top-flight Dutch side PEC Zwolle. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold drew 1-1 on Friday afternoon in Wezep. As with the friendly against TSG Hoffenheim (0-2) a number of first-team players were absent. The coach once again shared out time on the pitch for the 20-player squad. The goal of the match was scored by summer signing Vanessa Fudalla (67').
Show more
Continuity under the Cross: After the successful season in 2024/25 with reaching the final of the VBL Club Championship, the two Leverkusen e-sports players Marc and Sean Landwehr have extended their contracts at Bayer 04 by an additional two years. Marc is thereby in his sixth year and Sean in his third year with the Werkself. Together with e-talent Marcus Hüttemann, who has also extended his stay at Bayer 04 Bayer year, completes the current squad for the 2025/26 season.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will wear the new away kit for the 2025/26 season at the start of the training camp in Brazil. In conscious contrast to the international aspect of this year's training camp in Rio de Janeiro, kit supplier New Balance has designed a jersey for the Werkself players and all other Bayer 04 teams with distinct links to home.
Show more
An average of over 3,500 fans supported the Werkself at away games last season. Looking forward to the 2025/26 season, Bayer 04 now provide information on ticket sales for away games. The previous 0 sales phase is being replaced by the Regulars phase.
Show more
