
"Over the course of his six years at Leverkusen, Wendell has become a key member of our squad," said sporting director Simon Rolfes in explaining the new deal with the 26-year-old. "As a full-back, he plays a significant role on the pitch and, beyond that, he very much identifies with the team and the whole club," added Rolfes. Wendell is very important to us as a player and also as a role model."
Sporting managing director Rudi Völler added his contribution to the deal: "Bayer 04 are a special club for Wendell. In the past, he's had a number of interesting offers but has always remained loyal to us. We're happy we can continue to rely on him."
For Wendell, the contract extension is "a fantastic business. Six years at the same club are not a given for a football player. I like to remember my conversations with Zé Roberto who recommended Bayer 04 to me before my move to Germany. He said it's a club where I can be happy. He didn't promise too much," Wendell vouched. "I have always felt at home here, every single day. This club has become my family. And I'm sure we can achieve great things with our brilliant team."



Bayer 04 turned in a dominant performance in a 7-0 win against fifth-tier side Sportfreunde Baumberg in their first friendly ahead of the 2026/27 season. A brace from debutant Afonso Moreira (19', 27') either side of a Christian Kofane strike (23') put the Werkself 3-0 up in the first of the two 35-minute halves in Monheim am Rhein. After the break, Victor Boniface (49', 53'), Robert Andrich (56') and Nathan Tella (67') scored for the completely changed Leverkusen team. It was therefore a successful friendly debut for new head coach Carles Martínez and his team, although the hosts also had something to celebrate despite the defeat: the match marked the inauguration of Baumberg's new ground, the MEGA Stadion.
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Attention, Werkself fans: the new Away Matchday Collection is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt. It includes t-shirts, zip tops and jackets.
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Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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