In cold and wet weather on and around the training ground at the BayArena, the Werkself squad returned after the winter break with the exception of long-term injuries Joel Pohjanpalo (rehab training after ankle injury) and Panos Retsos (rehab after muscle tendon injury to thigh) plus Leon Bailey and Charles Aránguiz (both for private reasons). At the same time, Marco Wolf, a 17-year-old forward with the club's U19 team trained with the pros for the first time.
An intense warm-up session was followed by a range of passing and shooting drills as well as a practice match at the end of the first session under the new Werkself coach Peter Bosz that lasted for just under one and three-quarter hours.
The Werkself carry on training on Saturday and Sunday (both at 10.30 CET) as well as on Monday (14.30 CET) in open sessions before the first friendly of the New Year on Tuesday (14.00 CET). The match against the Dutch first division club Twente Enschede will be played behind closed doors.
Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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One ticket, two matches – and a varied programme of events, including appearances by players from the professional teams: Bayer 04 has come up with something very special for the 2026 season launch on Saturday, 8 August. From morning right through to the evening, Werkself fans can use just one ticket to not only enjoy top-class football from the Bayer 04 teams live, but also to experience unforgettable moments with the whole family through a variety of hands-on activities around the BayArena and the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The day will also end on a real high note: after both matches, Bayer 04 supporters will have the opportunity to interact directly with the players during joint activities and get to know them from a different angle.
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Issa Traoré is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Slovakian top-flight side AS Trencin. The club has loaned the centre-back out for one year to this year’s ninth-placed team in the Slovakian league.
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