It is exactly five weeks since the Werkself players not called up to their national teams started a well-deserved summer break after the #Bayer04MexicoTour. Today (Saturday) saw Robert Andrich, Kerem Demirbay and Co. return to the BayArena for the annual performance tests. Today's medical checks will be followed on Sunday by the physical part of the testing.
Whether it's in the dressing room, the Mixed Zone or in the Werkstatt: The Werkself players were beaming when they met up with teammates after a break of more than a month. And head coach Gerardo Seoane, plus his assistant coaches Patrick Schnarwiler and Alberto Encinas on site at the BayArena, chatted with the players to gain their first impressions after the summer break.
The kit worn by Karim Bellarabi and Co. is different from last season as the Black and Red shirts bear the name of the new kit supplier Castore.
The Werkself players taking part in the medical section of the performance tests on Saturday included returning loanees Nadiem Amiri (CFC Genoa), Mitchell Weiser (Werder Bremen) and Ayman Azhil (RKC Waalwijk). The international players, who flew out to join their national teams immediately after the #Bayer04MexicoTour, will start the pre-season at a later point in time.
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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