"In Malik Tillman we have gained another player who has great ability and is very dangerous in front of goal. He can play in midfield either as a number 10 or as a number 8. Malik is an absolute top signing for us," declared Bayer 04 managing director sport Simon Rolfes before adding: "His style suits Bayer 04 Leverkusen down to the ground. Our attacking game will gain a new boost thanks to Malik's dynamism."
After two league titles in succession in the Netherlands, Tillman now wants to achieve great things with Bayer 04. "This club has always played great football. But in the last four or five years Leverkusen have grown enormously and become attractive to a lot of players throughout Europe. I want to win something. That was my aim in Glasgow and in Eindhoven and it remains my aim here," said Tillman.
The move to the Bundesliga for the 1.87 metre tall right-footer represents a return to Germany. In 2015 he moved from SpVgg Greuther Fürth to the youth set-up at Bayern Munich from where he went out on loan to top Scottish club Rangers in 2022. Bayern sent him out on loan a year later to PSV Eindhoven who signed the playmaker on permanent terms in 2024.
Tillman made 21 appearances for several Germany teams. He played for the Germany U21s four times before deciding to play for the USA in 2022. Tillman produced impressive performances with the USA team at the Gold Cup in the USA and Canada that ended with a 2-1 defeat against Mexico in the final.
After Rio de Janeiro, it's off to Thuringia: This summer, Bayer 04 Leverkusen will prepare for the 2026/27 football season in Germany. While Brazil was the destination last year, the Werkself will now set up their training camp in Blankenhain, just outside Erfurt, from 1 to 7 August 2026.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
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The Bundesliga fixture between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been postponed at short notice.
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