Dr Burak Yildirim is ending his time at Leverkusen this summer. The 45-year-old doctor for orthopaedics, emergency surgery and sports medicine will completely focus on his practice in Pulheim in the future. "I'd like to thank all players, management and staff for the years of support and trust. I'm proud to have been part of this great club for so long."
Yildirim came to Bayer 04 in 1996. He started as a youth coach before moving into the section providing commentary for the visually impaired after three years. He became the team doctor in 2013 and has carried out that role for the last ten years.
His successor is Dr Stefan Porten. The 46-year-old is taking over looking after the Bayer 04 first team squad immediately together with Dr Philipp Ehrenstein. Dr Porten was the team doctor for the Germany U20 and U21 teams and for many years and up to 2018 he was the team doctor at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Dr Porten has an orthopaedic surgery in Cologne.
Dr Daniel Lay, previously the team doctor for the Germany Women's U20 team, will look after the medical needs of the Bayer 04 U19 and Women's teams.
Sven Elsinger is returning to the Leverkusen physios. The 55-year-old is taking charge of the first team physiotherapy section, a position he held for 13 years up to 2021. Elsinger recently worked in the youth section at Bayer 04. His deputy is Ill-Han Yun.
Jonas Rath is a new fitness coach at the Werkself. The 43-year-old was the fitness coach at Borussia Mönchengladbach for the last three years. Rath takes over from Schahriar Bigdeli who occupied that role since 2006 after being a long jumper with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
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Bayer 04 kick off the final phase of their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Head coach Carles Martínez’s team will take to the pitch at the City Ground today, Wednesday 12 August (kick-off: 8.45 pm/7.45 pm local time). Werkself-TV will broadcast the match live and in full exclusively for Bayer 04 members via livestream from 8.35 pm...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Argentina international Facundo Medina. The defender, who can play both at left-back and in a more central position in the back line, has signed a contract with Bayer 04 to 30 June 2031. The 1.84-metre-tall World Cup runner-up, who will wear the number 2 shirt, joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique de Marseille.
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Villa Fiorito, River Plate, Ligue 1, the World Cup final and now Bayer 04: Facundo Medina’s life story so far has been shaped by special places, clubs, matches and names. One of them is Diego Maradona, who, like Medina, hailed from the south of Buenos Aires. Another is Exequiel Palacios, his former team-mate at River Plate, who was raving about Bayer 04 to him as recently as the World Cup in North America. Medina has now taken the plunge into the Bundesliga and, as an Argentine World Cup runner-up, has joined Bayer 04 from Olympique de Marseille this week. It is set to be the next successful chapter in his career. Leverkusen’s new number 2 brings with him a South American mentality and passion, a wealth of experience from many years in Ligue 1, and a fascinating story to the Rhineland – and to a club where the 1.84-metre-tall left-footed player will be reunited with Palacios and several other familiar faces.
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Shortly after signing his contract with Bayer 04, new signing Facundo Medina spoke to Werkself.tv about his first impressions of the club, his expectations and his conversations with his Argentine compatriot Exequiel Palacios. The defender also reveals what the fans can look forward to. Welcome to Leverkusen, Facu!
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