New Year with light and shade
On the back of a few days rest, the Werkself look to get back on track in the New Year following the unlucky last-minute defeat against FC Bayern – that is only partially successful in spite of all the effort. A 2-1 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first match of 2021, a draw with Werder Bremen (1-1) plus another setback against FC Union Berlin (0-1) ensures a run of four games without a win. Nevertheless, the team under Peter Bosz on 32 points pick up a 2-1 win against Borussia Dortmund on matchday 17, with Florian Wirtz scoring the winner late-on, and are third in the table at the halfway stage behind FC Bayern (39 points) and RB Leipzig (35 points). Another bright spot in an otherwise miserable January in 2021: reaching the DFB Cup Round of 16. In spite of going 1-0 down early on and temporarily being a player short, Bayer 04 turn the second round tie against Eintracht Frankfurt round to win 4-1.
Reinforcement from Britain
Bayer 04 make three moves in the transfer market in the winter transfer window. Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic), Demarai Gray (Leicester City) plus Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Manchester United) sign for Leverkusen to strengthen the squad.
Contrasting fortunes
The fact that runs not only produce joy and feelings of happiness but also have a darker side was experienced by Bayer 04 at the start of the second half of the season. Between matchdays 18 and 26, Peter Bosz and his team only pick up two wins in Germany’s top flight – the 5-2 home win on matchday 20 against VfB Stuttgart with three assists from winger Moussa Diaby along with the hard-earned 1-0 victory at Borussia Mönchengladbach was one of the few convincing performances by the Werkself.
Turn three into one
The Black and Reds fare no better in the other competitions: First comes the exit from the DFB Cup at the start of February in a 2-1 defeat after extra time against Regional League Rot-Weiss Essen, then the Werkself lose twice in the Europa League Round of 16 to Young Boys Bern coached by Gerardo Seoane 3-4 and 0-2 – a season that started with such promise threatens to end in disappointment. The target for the season in the remaining competition of the Bundesliga is European qualification.
Wolf replaces Bosz
The Leverkusen management set about that without the previous head coach. After the exits from the cup competitions and mixed fortunes in the second half of the Bundesliga season, Bayer 04 react to the 2-1 home defeat against Arminia Bielefeld and the 3-0 loss at Hertha Berlin on matchday 26 by parting company with Peter Bosz. His successor Hannes Wolf is brought in from the DFB on loan to take charge of the team to the end of the season along with Miguel Moreira and Bayer 04 legend Peter Hermann. That is designed to provide a boost for the Werkself in the race for European qualification.
Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
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The Bayer 04 Women’s squad for the coming season is continuing to take shape: Centre-back Emily Wallrabenstein has moved to Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt’s reserve team, who play in the Women’s Bundesliga 2. The 19-year-old has penned a contract until 30 June 2028.
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Bayern 04 Women have confirmed another summer signing, with midfielder Paulina Platner moving to Leverkusen from SGS Essen. The 20-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Werkself.
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The German Football League (DFL) has shortlisted Martin Terrier’s scorpion kick goal against 1. FC Köln for the 2025/26 Bundesliga Goal of the Season. Bayer 04 fans can vote for their favourite goal via the Bundesliga app from now until Monday 25 May (23:59 CEST).
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Bayer 04 will be preparing young talents for a potential sporting career in an even more systematic way in future. The club is breaking new ground to help develop their academic, social and personal skills as well. With the ‘Haus der Talente' or 'Talent House’, Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH is creating a new centre for the development of young athletes in a central location in Leverkusen. Once completed – expected to be in the summer of 2027 – the project will be run in partnership with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e.V.
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