“Robert Andrich is an experienced and established Bundesliga player who has continually improved at all his previous clubs. He is commanding and very ambitious,” said Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes. "With his professionalism and sense of responsibility, Robert is a character who can lead the way."
For sporting managing director Rudi Völler the signing of Andrich is "an important transfer that will considerably strengthen our squad. Robert Andrich is very good at opening up games and is also excellent at winning the ball and covering ground," said Völler. His presence will help our team on the pitch."
Andrich considers his move under the Bayer Cross as "a first-class opportunity to show again what I can do at a top German club and thereby also take another step in my development. Bayer 04 have played at the top of the Bundesliga for many years," said Andrich. "That's why I’m very happy and really impressed about how much the club fought to get me now and not in a year’s time. I'd like to and will definitely repay that confidence in my ability."
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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