From aspiring youth talent to Bundesliga first team regular: Florian Wirtz became a favourite for everybody who supports Bayer 04 last season at the age of just 18. The versatile forward provided eight goals and eight assists in 38 games. He also became a European Champion with the Germany U21s in the summer. These stats plus his inimitable dribbling and clever passes have secured Wirtz a place in the list of nominations for the Golden Boy Award.
The award by the Italian sports journal Tuttosport for the most promising U21 talent worldwide is very well respected. Also in the vote alongside Wirtz are eleven other Bundesliga players and the list contains 100 U21 talents. Tuttosport have presented the Golden Boy Award since 2003 and previous winners include Lionel Messi (2005), Mario Götze (2011), Kylian Mbappe (2017) and the most recently Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland.
Kai Havertz and Kevin Volland could hardly have found a better phone a friend alternative. The former Leverkusen players took part in a YouTube based ‘DFB EURO taxi’ that included answering quiz questions. But the Germany players did not have a clue about the question of who was the host country for the 1972 European Championship.
They immediately made use of their phone a friend option – as they called up Rudi Völler. The Bayer 04 sporting managing director obviously leapt at the chance of supporting the former charges. Although the 61-year-old was sitting in his favourite restaurant and had a glass of wine, he naturally knew the right answer: "Belgium". It's good to have such experienced friends...
From the first team to the youth talents: The Bayer 04 U17s start the Leverkusen weekend of friendlies. The team under Jan Hoepner and Thomas Zdebel play the U19 team of Fortuna Köln on Saturday, 19 June. The kick-off at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre is at 11.00 CEST.
That is followed the next day by the U13 team playing Jugendsport Wenau at 11.00 CEST. The oldest year group at Bayer 04, the U19s, face TuS Koblenz on Tuesday night, 22 June (kick-off: 19.00 CEST). Both of those friendlies will also be played at Kurtekotten.
Finally, we have put together a few social media highlights for you. Enjoy the following formats, short videos and photos:
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
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Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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