Profile of new signing Tim Oermann

Talking about the loan deal with Graz, who have qualified for the play-offs in the Champions League and will definitely be on the European stage, sporting managing director Simon Rolfes said: "Tim Oermann is a player who represents the strengthening of our squad over the long term. The loan to Graz gives Tim the opportunity to further improve in a top team and also gain important international experience which will be a very good starting point for him at Bayer 04 over the long term.”

from youth teams to senior squad

Born in Bochum, Oermann started at VfL at the age of nine. The 1.89 metre tall defender progressed through all the youth teams right up to the U19s. Oermann was in the first-team squad from the 2022/23 season and he made his Bundesliga debut in September 2022 against FC Köln – under his former U19 coach Heiko Butscher who was the caretaker coach of the senior squad. He made four Bundesliga appearances up to the winter break.

on loan in austria – regular starter at Bochum

Oermann went out on loan for six months at the Austria Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC in the Rückrunde in 2022/23. He played 14 times for WAC up to the end of the season and also made one appearance in the Austrian Cup and one in the Europa Conference League play-offs.

Oermann then played the full season for Bochum in 2023/24. He made 16 Bundesliga appearances including a start in the important relegation play-off second leg at Fortuna Düsseldorf that ended in a win on penalties. In 2024/25 Oermann played 29 games (two assists), including 26 starts, plus one game in the DFB Pokal as he became a regular first choice at VfL.

with germany at U21 euros in the summer

Oermann has gained important experience on the international level: He made seven appearances in the Elite League for the Germany U21 team under Hannes Wolf, who was the caretaker coach at Bayer 04 at the end of the 2020/21 season. He made his first appearance for the Germany U21 side in the autumn of 2024. Coach Antonio Di Salvo then picked him for another five games (four wins, one draw).

Oermann said after signing: "It's a great arrangement for me. "Graz are very ambitious, that and the level of the club will help me. I'm already looking forward to being able to show my ability at one of the best clubs in Germany in a year’s time."

Before Oermann joins up with loan club Sturm Graz for the pre-season, he will play for Germany in the U21 Euros in Slovakia in June.