Bayer 04 fans, who want to get a first impression of the new squad, can drop by at the BayArena. The first session at 10.00 CET on Tuesday morning will see at least nine first team players on the training ground. The only truly new player will be Kevin Volland signed from Hoffenheim with great expectations on the part of Bayer 04. Levin Öztunali and Danny da Costa return after loan periods at Werder Bremen and Ingolstadt respectively looking to establish themselves in the Werkself squad and goalkeeper Niklas Lomb is another returnee.
Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah will be the last two to join the Bayer 04 pre-season after earning a well deserved summer break following Germany’s exit from Euro 2016 in the semi-final defeat against France. They belong to a group of nine players who return late due to commitments at the Euros or the Copa America: Chicharito, Charles Aránguiz, Hakan Calhanoglu, Admir Mehmedi, Julian Baumgartlinger, Ramazan Özcan and Tin Jedvaj. Benjamin Henrichs and Lukas Boeder are away with the Germany Under 19 side competing at the European Championships on home soil.
Another major event is also on the horizon. Germany coach Horst Hrubesch is set to announce his squad for the Olympic Games in Rio next week. The football tournament in Brazil from 4 to 20 August with Germany in Group C alongside Mexico, South Korea and Fiji. Bayer 04 candidates for inclusion in the Germany squad are Julian Brandt, Levin Öztunali and possibly Lars Bender – the Werkself captain in one of three players over the age of 23. Left back Wendell misses out on a slot in the Brazil team due to ongoing rehab following his ankle ligament injury.
First friendly on Friday
Following the performance tests on Monday head coach Roger Schmidt will lead training sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10.00 and 16.00 each day. There will be a morning training session on Friday ahead of the first friendly against SC Verl (19.00 CET) as part of the short training camp in Marienfeld from 15 to 17 July.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is intensifying the existing cooperation with Business Club partner EDO Personalservice. The Cologne-based company will receive additional hospitality rights from the Bundesliga club as well as prominent advertising in and around the BayArena. EDO Personalservice provides jobs both on a temporary basis and by directly placing skilled workers in permanent positions at other companies.
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Gustavo Puerta has left Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join Spanish second division club Racing Santander.
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Piero Hincapie has left Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join Arsenal. The Premier League club has signed the 23-year-old on an initial season-long loan until the end of 2025/26 with an obligation to buy the Ecuador international defender, if certain conditions are met.
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Victor Boniface has left Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan to fellow Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. The Nigerian centre forward joined the Werkself in January 2023 from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise.
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¡Bienvenido a Leverkusen, Ezequiel ‘Equi’ Fernández! Bayer 04 have signed the Argentine midfielder from Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah. The left-footed 23-year-old, who got his first taste for professional football at Boca Juniors, has signed a contract in Leverkusen until 30 June 2030 and will wear the number 6 shirt. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the 1.78-metre-tall new arrival.
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