Back
11.06.2025Bayer 04

Versatile new signing from Champions League winners: Axel Tape profiled

Welcome to Leverkusen, Axel Tape! Bayer 04 have signed the 17-year-old defensive player on a free transfer from Champions League winners and French league and cup winners Paris Saint-Germain. The French U18 international has agreed a long-term contract at Leverkusen. Bayer 04 introduces the new arrival.
Axel Tape

Born and raised in the Paris suburb of Bondy, Axel Tape played for FC 93 Bobigny until the age of 12. Then in summer 2020, nearby top club Paris Saint-Germain came calling.

The technically gifted, fast and versatile Tape progressed through all the youth ranks at the current French treble winners. In the season just gone, he primarily featured for the PSG U19 side and started in every UEFA Youth League match.

first-team appearances for treble winners

The 1.80-metre-tall youngster also got his first taste of senior football in the 2024/25 campaign. Having been included in Luis Enrique's squad for the first time in November, he made his debut in the Coupe de France in January, starting in the centre of defence alongside Lucas Hernandez.

After this successful professional debut, Tape also got the chance to impress at the end of the Ligue 1 season, playing 90 minutes at centre-back in both the 2-1 defeat to Racing Strasbourg on Matchday 32 and the 4-1 win over Montpellier HSC on Matchday 33.

Axel Tape

As well as the treble of the Champions League, league and cup for the first team, Tape also celebrated the French U19 championship at the end of the season. He and his team-mates beat FC Nantes 2-1 in the final last weekend.

Rolfes: 'great potential'

Bayer 04 managing director sport Simon Rolfes considers the French U18 international "a versatile defensive player, a good footballer with pace, athleticism and a sharp reading of the game. We see great potential in Axel."

Related News

Wiedersehen in Brasilien
Bayer 04 - 19.07.2025

Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Emotional reunion of former teammates after 30 years

The Bayer 04 Brazil Tour brought a surprising and emotional reunion of former teammates as current team manager Hans-Peter Lehnhoff met up with some of the club’s Brazilian legends, seeing some of them for the first time in 30 years.

Show more
crop_20250718_JS_BRA_Day4_FLAB04_9160.jpg
Bayer 04 - 18.07.2025

Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Day 4 blog: Christ the Redeemer in red, Renato Augusto and Co. watch Werkself friendly

Day four of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour is all about the Werkself friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team. Before the kick-off at the Estádio da Gávea today, Friday, 18 July, at 14:30 local time (19:30 CEST), the Werkself players will warm-up at the team hotel. In addition: A communal evening event with a view of the famous landmark in Rio de Janeiro. Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on the spot reports. Day four blog on the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings in local time).

Show more
Testspiel
Bayer 04 - 18.07.2025

Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Werkself lose 5-1 to Flamengo U20s

The Werkself lost 5-1 against the Flamengo U20 team in the first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2025/26 season. The scorers for the Brazilian team, playing in the middle of their season, were Lorran (3’), an Arthur own goal (11’), Matheus Goncalves (40’), Pedro Leao (45+4’) and Gusttavo (55’). Head coach Erik ten Hag made several substitutions on 30 minutes and he made ten more changes on the hour mark. The Werkself were then more proactive on the pitch with the input from Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich and Co. bringing significantly more attacking moves that led to a number of chances. Montrell Culbreath netted a consolation strike on 71 minutes for the final score of 5-1.

Show more
Loreen Bender und Vanessa Fudalle bejubeln den Treffer
Women - 18.07.2025

Women end first part of preseason with 1-0 win against Ajax

A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.

Show more