Today there was another intensive session: As on every Tuesday, it was once again the hardest session of the week with the focus on fitness training. After a practice match of 11 v 11, where the head coach Peter Bosz and his assistants continued to explain and correct things during the breaks, the players left the pitch exhausted. Mitchell Weiser was also back on the turf today – he trained on his own following his metatarsal injury. There is no training session planned for Wednesday but Thursday and Friday will see the final preparations for the league opener at the BayArena against SC Paderborn – behind closed doors. Tickets are still available for Saturday’s game against the Bundesliga newcomers.
Exactly two weeks ago today, Bayer 04 signed Nadiem Amiri – and Peter Bosz opted to play the 22-year-old from the start in last Saturday’s DFB Cup tie at Alemannia Aachen. "That came as a bit of surprise and is not necessarily usual when you've only been at a new club for two weeks. I thank the coach for his confidence in me," said Amiri. The U21 international is in very positive mood after the first two weeks in Leverkusen: "I've been really well received and I feel very good here. Unfortunately I'm still in a hotel – and when I finally find somewhere to live then I’ll feel even better." He still has to celebrate his new post as he admitted. Traditionally, new signings have to sing to the team-mates – "perhaps I'll sing something romantic," said Amiri with a smile. Our new signing will shortly be giving an interview to Bayer 04 TV.
Bad news from the Bayer 04 U19s: Samed Onur, who completed a lot of sessions with the Werkself during the pre-season and also played in the friendlies suffered a torn cruciate in last Saturday’s league opener for the U19's at Victoria Koeln. The 17-year-old faces an operation and then a long stretch on the sidelines. "I'll do all I can in rehab and then I’ll give 100 per cent again," said Onur.
The Werkself went through to the second round of the DFB Cup with the win against Alemannia Aachen on Saturday – the last clubs completed their first round ties yesterday. Who the Werkself will meet in the second round and whether Bayer 04 might be drawn at home will be decided on Sunday. The draw will be made from 18.00 CET during the ARD Sportschau TV programme. It will be held at the German Football Museum in Dortmund with the Germany U21 coach Stefan Kuntz and former international Christoph Metzelder making the draw.
The long-standing successful collaboration between Bayer 04 and the transport service provider wupsi GmbH has been expanded: From January 2026, 100 wupsi bikes with Bayer 04 branding will be available for hire throughout the city of Leverkusen. They will complement the many existing offers and services that provide key support, especially for fans travelling to and from home matches at the BayArena.
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The Werkself are back! Following the two-week winter break, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team began the new year with an open session on Sunday. After Robert Andrich and his teammates arrived in Leverkusen yesterday for the official check-in, they got back down to business a day later in front of around 1,200 fans at the Ulrich Haberland Stadion. The report from the Werkself's first session of 2026.
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In her debut season of 2024/25, Cornelia Kramer immediately became the top scorer for Bayer 04 Women. However, the Danish national team striker was stopped by an injury at the start of the new season. Now, just in time before the end of last year, she is fit again – and has extended her contract early until 2027. In this interview, the 23-year-old talks about the reasons for her decision and looks ahead.
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After a two-week winter break, the Werkself resume training on Sunday, 4 January. The first session in 2026 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium starts at 11:00 and is open to fans. Bayer 04 look forward to welcoming supporters at the start of 2026. The Werkself schedule for the new year.
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