
A reception at the German – Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade in the city centre of São Paulo was the first event of the day. Different members of the German – Brazilian business community attended to hear one or two anecdotes from the historic double winning season of 2023/24 first hand from Simon Rolfes, sporting managing director at Bayer 04, and Kim Falkenberg, head of recruitment at Bayer 04. The event was hosted by Katharina Gerlitz, coordinator for market entry and business development at the foreign trade chamber.






That was followed by a very special visit: Bayer 04, in partnership with the Plastiks company, opened a new green mining recycling station in São Paulo. Bayer 04 legend Paulo Sergio made the one-hour journey to Embu das Artes, a municipality to the south of São Paulo, to experience first-hand how the waste collection point works. On site he spoke in depth to young people about the subject of sustainability.
The visit to the recycling plant was the official launch of a joint project. Plastiks is a sustainable organisation that is committed worldwide to the reuse of waste and against waste pollution. As part of this cooperation, Bayer 04 is working with the green mining organisation in São Paulo, the most populous city in South America and hometown to club legend Sergio, where the waste recycling rate is currently only around 3%. You can find out more HERE.





Rolfes and Falkenberg had a little time for a sightseeing tour through the city – with the walk including São Paulo's famous area of Beco de Batman (Batman Alley), which is primarily known for its artistic wall paintings. A must during the walk: The Meisterschale.
Holger Tromp, communications director at Bayer 04, summed up the eventful day as follows: "Today was a great opportunity for us to make contact with a large number of the members of the community of São Paulo – whether that was the business people from the foreign trade chamber, with employees at the green mining station or simply with football fans everywhere here during our events." Tromp added: "This link should be durable to further strengthen our link to the Brazilian market and the country over the long term."





The third day in the melting pot of Brazil starts with a number of media events followed by a visit to a school. The day will be rounded off with a premiere of the Bayer 04 documentary 'A Dream Comes True' that is being broadcast in Brazil for the first time in the evening in cooperation with TV Globo to over 1,000 people at the Goethe Institute.

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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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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A warm welcome to the Weimarer Land, Bayer 04! The Werkself moved into their accommodation for this year’s training camp on Saturday evening. In Blankenhain, Thuringia, head coach Carles Martínez’s team have a programme of gruelling training sessions – several of which will be open to fans – and team-building activities lined up for the next six days. We’ll be following the Werkself up close and providing you with exclusive insights, quotes, photos and videos from the training camp.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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