
"Kerim Alajbegovic has not only fulfilled the high expectations placed in him in Salzburg, he has even exceeded them in a very short space of time," said Bayer 04 Managing Director Sport Simon Rolfes. "Despite his youth, he was an absolute top performer at RB Salzburg and has also delivered top performances in Europe in the Champions League qualifiers and in the UEFA Europa League matches. We are sure Kerim can also play an important role at Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the coming years." Bayer 04 Director of Football Kim Falkenberg added: "Kerim's talent is great, as are his ambition and his will to win. We believe in him - Kerim has everything he needs to establish himself as a Werkself player in the coming years."
For the two-footed Alajbegovic, returning to the club of his youth is another step forward: "For me, it's a step up to another level. I know the club, Bayer 04 Leverkusen have the highest standards. A top 16 club in Europe that always competes at the top of the Bundesliga. Many young players have already made it here. I also have that goal," said the Cologne-born 18-year-old, who can play as a left winger or in attacking midfield.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended midfielder Noah Mbamba’s contract by twelve months and sent the Belgian U21 international on loan to France. At FC Lorient, the 21-year-old – whose contract at Leverkusen now runs to 30 June 2029 – is set to gain playing time in Ligue 1 and, through strong performances and further development, put himself in the running for a future place in the Werkself squad.
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Spurred on by a flawless hat-trick from Cornelia Kramer, the Bayer 04 women’s team won their penultimate pre-season friendly in commanding fashion. As part of the season launch, the Werkself beat Dutch top-flight side Feyenoord 7–0. In front of 3,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, Kramer (6’, 25’, 45’), Sofie Zdebel (47’), Maja Sternad (59'), Natasha Kowalski (83') and Vanessa Fudalla (86') scored the goals for coach Roberto Pätzold’s side.
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The Shareholders’ Committee of Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH has extended the contracts of the two managing directors, Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes, ahead of schedule. The CEO, Fernando Carro (62), will continue in his role until 30 June 2029, and managing director sport Simon Rolfes (44) will remain in post until 30 June 2031.
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There’s plenty for Bayer 04 fans to enjoy both on and off the pitch at the official 2026 season launch. In addition to the women’s team taking on Feyenoord at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium at 13:15 CEST and the men’s team facing Sevilla at the BayArena at 15:30 CEST, fans of all ages can enjoy a range of activities – and get to meet Bayer 04 players and former players in the process. The Fanwelt is also offering a special promotion: buy a new shirt and get free printing! Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about the season launch, including the live streams.
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