"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.
The second friendly and the first goal for the Bayer 04 Women: The Werkself just missed out on their first win in the preseason away to top-flight Dutch side PEC Zwolle. The team led by coach Roberto Pätzold drew 1-1 on Friday afternoon in Wezep. As with the friendly against TSG Hoffenheim (0-2) a number of first-team players were absent. The coach once again shared out time on the pitch for the 20-player squad. The goal of the match was scored by summer signing Vanessa Fudalla (67').
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Continuity under the Cross: After the successful season in 2024/25 with reaching the final of the VBL Club Championship, the two Leverkusen e-sports players Marc and Sean Landwehr have extended their contracts at Bayer 04 by an additional two years. Marc is thereby in his sixth year and Sean in his third year with the Werkself. Together with e-talent Marcus Hüttemann, who has also extended his stay at Bayer 04 Bayer year, completes the current squad for the 2025/26 season.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed centre forward Christian Kofane. The 18-year-old Cameroonian joins Leverkusen from Spanish second tier club Albacete on a contract to 30 June 2029.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will wear the new away kit for the 2025/26 season at the start of the training camp in Brazil. In conscious contrast to the international aspect of this year's training camp in Rio de Janeiro, kit supplier New Balance has designed a jersey for the Werkself players and all other Bayer 04 teams with distinct links to home.
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