Patrik Schick particularly impressed in the 2021/22 season with his efficiency and cool finishing in front of goal. With 24 goals in the Bundesliga, Schick scored the second highest number of goals for the Werkself in their 43 years in the Bundesliga – only club legend and first team coordinator Stefan Kießling is narrowly ahead. The Czech scored a goal in the league every 87 minutes on average. That overshadows the existing record held by 'Kies'.
In spite of setbacks through injury, which the Czech Republic international had to overcome this season, Schick is the Werkself Player of the Season for the supporters of the Black and Reds. Bayer 04 congratulate the Werkself number 14 who was able to win the hearts of the fans in his first year under the Bayer Cross.
The Prague-born player has made a clear statement both on and off the pitch. The early contract extension to the end of the 2027 season shows the commitment of the 26-year-old to the Werkself: "I feel really at home here but, above all, our team is very promising for the future. It's incredible fun with these lads and we are really keen to achieve something." That mentality promises more seasons of goals and success for the Werkself to experience together with the 2021/22 Player of the Season...
The second highest number of votes was clocked up by last year's winner: Youngster Florian Wirtz lost out in the race to be Werkself Player of the Season in spite of a great campaign. Pacy winger Moussa Diaby is in third place. The France international thrilled Bayer 04 supporters with his breathtaking attacking football that saw him contribute a combined total of 25 goals and assists in the Bundesliga last term.
The Player of the Season trophy will be presented at the season launch on 31 July by one member on behalf of the fan community.
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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Newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg will begin the 2026/27 season as Bundesliga club number 59. The Saarland club start their first Bundesliga campaign at home to the Werkself on Saturday, 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST) at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, which is currently being rebuilt. For one Leverkusen player in the ‘Elv’ line-up, the clash will be a special reunion. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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