The Werkself have their first open training session on 15 July, the day after returning to work, and that will be followed by the first friendly away to third-division side Rot-Weiss Essen on 26 July (kick-off at 19:00 CEST). The official Bayer 04 training camp will be held in Donaueschingen in the Black Forest from 28 July to 2 August. The team hotel is Der Öschberghof and Bayer 04 will use the training facilities of local club SV Aasen, where Premier League club Liverpool trained last year under head coach Jürgen Klopp. The Spain team are also based there this summer for the European Championship.
At the end of the training camp, the team will travel from Donaueschingen to France, for a friendly against French Ligue 1 side RC Lens on Saturday 3 August (16:00 CEST).
Four days later, the Werkself face another stern test, this time in England. The friendly at Arsenal, whose team includes ex-Bayer 04 man Kai Havertz, takes place at the Emirates Stadium in London on Wednesday 7 August (19:00 CEST, 18:00 local time).
All dates at a glance* (all times CEST):
*Last-minute changes are possible
Further dates will be announced by Bayer 04.
The Werkself will play Bundesliga runners-up VfB Stuttgart in the DFL Supercup on 17 August in Leverkusen. Bayer 04 will open the 2024/25 Bundesliga season in defence of their title on Friday 23 August (opponents to be confirmed).
The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico is underway. A total of eight Leverkusen players are taking part in the 23rd World Cup, with 48 teams in the tournament for the first time. Bayer04.de brings you all the latest from Werkself players at the World Cup.
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Following the summer break of around two months, the Bayer 04 first team squad took to the training pitches at the BayArena for the first time on Tuesday – and the players were in high spirits. Alongside the newly formed coaching team led by head coach Carles Martínez, new signing Afonso Moreira also completed his first session with the squad. In front of several hundred Bayer 04 fans at the open session, numerous Werkself players worked up a good sweat. The Leverkusen players who took part in the World Cup will join pre-season training at a later date.
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In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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Black and Red talent development at the highest level – even off the pitch: Apprentices Jule Suermann, Leandra Bellia and Julia Niederheide have successfully completed their two- or three-year apprenticeships at the club. Bayer 04 honoured the trio at the BayArena on Tuesday.
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