
In addition, there is again a colourful collection of reports, images and other interesting stories from the Black and Red world of football. The recently crowned Argentinian World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios is obviously included as is Florian Wirtz, whose comeback after a long time on the sidelines is a reason to celebrate and not just for Bayer 04 fans. “The return of the ‘improver’” is the headline of the story about the 19-year-old who voluntarily provides an insight into his frame of mind during the often difficult months in rehab. Other subjects covered include the forthcoming Europa League tie with AS Monaco and the Werkself USA tour to St. Louis.
There is also some interesting reading matter away from the first team. Ken Izekor is already a prolific goalscorer with the Bayer 04 U17 team at the age of 15 and he could feature for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League. Friederike Repohl, the Bayer 04 Women’s team keeper, looks back at her biggest game and recalls some great saves in the penalty shoot-out to win the DFB Cup in 2020.
A profile of the Leverkusen club SV Schlebusch, one of the three winners of the volunteering award, completes the magazine along with a very unusual international fan community for whom no way is too far in following the Werkself. And, on top of that, the reader also has a deeper insight into the demanding work of a reporter for the visually impaired at Bayer 04. The Werkself magazine number 40 – full of exclusive Black and Red content.

Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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In the final international break in the current 2025/26 campaign, Bayer 04 striker Patrik Schick with Czechia will be battling for a place at the World Cup. Meanwhile, national teams that have already qualified, include other Werkself players called up, are involved in friendlies in the build-up to the World Cup. Read on for an overview of the Leverkusen internationals and their match dates.
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The Werkself kicked off the final international break of the current season on Monday morning with the first of three open training sessions this week. While eleven Bayer 04 players will be away on international duty in the coming days, the other players will be working together in Leverkusen. The next challenge in the Bundesliga awaits on Saturday, 4 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) with the home game against VfL Wolfsburg.
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