The squad under head coach Gerardo Seoane will prepare for next season in Zell am See-Kaprun from 14 to 22 July. As in previous years, Lukas Hradecky and Co. will stay at the Hotel TauernSPA in Kaprun and train at the Alois-Latini-Stadium in Zell am See. Two friendlies are planned during the stay in Austria.
“Ten years of training camps in the one and the same region – that is exceptional by Bundesliga standards. And, in my eyes, an indication of the good partnership between SalzburgerLand and Bayer 04,” said Werkself CEO Fernando Carro. “The hotel is great, the training ground is good, the hospitality is cordial and the organisers come up with new ideas every year. The team, coaching staff, club management and our fans always feel at home. Not to forget: We have always qualified for European competitions with one exception since 2013.
The fact the tenth Werkself training camp in Salzburger Land is not in 2022 is down to the coronavirus pandemic and the associated changes to the match calendar in the summer of 2020. Back then, the Bundesliga season ended in June, the DFB Cup final was at the start of July and the finals of the UEFA Europa League were in August. That left no time for a pre-season away from Leverkusen.
“The Werkself have deep roots in Leverkusen but they have found a home away from home in SalzburgerLand. Our partnership of the past ten years has developed into a true friendship,” said Leo Bauernberger, CEO of SalzburgerLand Tourismus Gesellschaft (SLTG). “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Bayer 04 Leverkusen back to the training camp in July and we will provide the opportunity for top preparation for next season’s European highlights. I would like to take this opportunity to invite all Werkself fans to Zell am See-Kaprun. Is there anything better than combining the passion for the Werkself with a summer holiday in the Salzburg mountains?”
Renate Ecker, tourism director for Zell am See-Kaprun: “Germany is one of our biggest and most important markets both in the summer and the winter. The Bayer 04 Leverkusen training camp very much underlines our activities, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia. Zell am See-Kaprun is well established as a sports destination and we are in the best position to convey that. The large number of sporting opportunities coupled with the natural world of glaciers, mountains and lakes provides optimum conditions for the Werkself to make the most of training and the necessary rest and recovery.”
Nine matches against teams from nine countries, two penalty shoot-outs won, and encounters that went far beyond football: As with last year, the Inklusionswerkself enjoyed an extraordinary week at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, USA, and made memories that will last a lifetime. This year, the Leverkusen side took part as Germany’s official representatives and, accordingly, took to the pitch in Germany kit. Together with 53 teams from 53 nations, the Black and Reds once again sent a powerful message of inclusion and participation – and also impressed on the pitch by winning their group.
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The Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog, you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme for day two (Monday, 3 August) centres on two training sessions – one in the morning (open to the public) and one in the early evening (behind closed doors) – at the nearby training grounds. In the afternoon, fans can look forward to a big fan meet-up with club legend Paulo Sergio at Schloss Blankenhain.
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“Say hello to the Werkself!” – With this request, Loïc Bade gathers everybody in front of his GoPro: Including team-mates like Ibrahim Maza, Lucas Vázquez, Aleix Garcia and Ernest Poku, or Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro, head coach Carles Martínez, or even the reception team at the Spa & GolfResort Weimarer Land. In between, there are glimpses of the pool area and the Werkself’s team quarters. Enjoy!
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended Abdoulaye Faye’s contract by a further year to 30 June 2031. During the 2026/27 season, the talented defender will play for Celta Vigo on loan without an option to buy. The 21-year-old Senegalese is set to feature in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League with last season’s sixth-placed side in Spain.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. The programme on day one (Sunday 2 August) includes a media round with managing director sport Simon Rolfes, free time for the team after the friendly against Rot-Weiss Essen and before an intensive week of training begins, as well as a coffee get-together where CEO Fernando Carro and Rolfes met around 100 fans in the afternoon.
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