…his past few weeks and months: We had a three-week break after the end of the Bundesliga season before we started preparing for the Champions League finals tournament. Then I had a couple of days off before starting to train again.
…the time Schick had to spend in quarantine: One of my Czech Republic teammates had a positive test for coronavirus. Several people from the team then had to go into quarantine – that included me. After the coronavirus tests proved negative for me, I was allowed to leave Prague and fly to Germany.
…first impressions in Leverkusen: I signed the contract after the medical – and today was the first training session. I'm very happy to be here. I've got to know my teammates and everybody's been really nice. The first training session went perfectly – the pitches are in good condition and the recovery options are outstanding. Everything you need to produce good performances is here.
…his decision to sign for Bayer 04: I had positive experiences at Leipzig. That's why I wanted to stay in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen have the same quality as Leipzig. The club are very ambitious and have an attractive, attacking style of play. I like that.
...the influence of his Czech Republic fellow countryman Michal Kadlec, who played for the Werkself from 2008 to 2013: I talked to him about Leverkusen in the run-up to the move. He said very positive things about the club and he helped me make the decision to come here.
…his current fitness level: Due to the time in quarantine, today's training was the first for me in around ten days. I think the cup game against Norderstedt (13 September, ed.) has come too soon for me. I have to start slowly and rediscover my form. I think I'll be ready for the first Bundesliga game at Wolfsburg.
…his targets with the Werkself: I want to play in the Champions League with Leverkusen. I'll fight as much as I can to achieve that target and I'd like to score as many goals as possible along the way.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 midfielder Jonah Berghoff ahead of schedule. The Germany U18 international has signed professional terms with the club to 30 June 2030.
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Two months of preparation, five friendlies and the return of a familiar training camp location: After finishing fifth in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga last season, the Werkself will return to training on Tuesday, 23 June. Bayer04.de outlines the key dates in the 2026 summer timetable.
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With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
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