"We’ve been looking at Jonas for a long time and we are happy he's decided to join Bayer 04," said sporting managing director Simon Rolfes about the 2022 World Cup player. "Thanks to his vision, his outstanding technical ability as well as his experience, he is the type of player we’ve been looking for to strengthen our squad."
Jonas Hofmann started his professional career at TSG Hoffenheim. After five years at Borussia Dortmund, including a 12-month loan spell at Mainz 05, the Heidelberg-born player joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2016. The right-footer made a total of 184 Bundesliga appearances for the Foals scoring 40 goals and providing 40 assists. Hofman has four full international caps for Germany to date.
The new Leverkusen signing said: "I'm very grateful to Borussia for the past seven years. I had a brilliant time there. But recently I’v increasingly had the feeling of wanting to do something new. Bayer 04 fit the bill as the club has been amongst the top German sides for years and they are always keen to compete in Europe. The team is exciting and possesses an incredible amount of quality. I'm really looking forward to this next chapter."
Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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Bayer 04 start the 2026/27 season away to third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Ahead of the DFB Pokal tie on Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez spoke at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The topics: anticipation, passion, the fans’ support – and the captaincy for the new season.
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SV Wehen Wiesbaden undoubtedly envisaged a different start to the new season. After two matchdays, the Hessen side currently sit bottom of the Liga 3 table. On Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), SVWW host the Werkself in the first round of the DFB Pokal at their home ground, the BRITA Arena. It was there, in this very competition a year ago, that the club almost pulled off a massive upset. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Farid Alfa-Ruprecht is going out on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Bundesliga 2 side Hertha Berlin. The pacy winger will be at the Berlin club for one year.
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