
“We're happy that Kai Havertz is the next homegrown player to make a long-term commitment to the club. It underlines our ambition to bring more and more talented youngsters through to the first team,” declared sporting director Rudi Völler.
Havertz, who previously played for Alemannia Mariadorf (to 2008) and Alemannia Aachen (2008-2010), joined Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2010. Here, he became a Germany Under 17 international and this year he won the Germany Under 17 league title. “Along with Atakan Akkaynak and Sam Schreck, Kai joined us at the training camp in Austria and and he had great fun out there. He looked relaxed and showed he has great potential. If his development continues at the same pace then he will a brilliant addition to our squad,” added Völler.


Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
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Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
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