When the youngster was presented with the trophy at the BayArena after the training session on Thursday afternoon, teammate Kerem Demirbay found words of praise for the 18-year-old: "You really deserved that with your performances, Flo!
In September, the Leverkusen offensive player created a sensation in the Bundesliga with his entertaining approach to the game and his hard work for the team but, above all, with his goal threat: The Pulheim-born youngster, who is clearly used as a playmaker by the new head coach Gerardo Seoane, has been involved in five goals in the first three league matches of the month. Wirtz scored in the 4-3 defeat against Borussia Dortmund and in the 3-1 win at VfB Stuttgart and provided an assist in each game, and in the 1-0 win against FSV Mainz 05 he secured all three points for the Black and Reds at the BayArena with the only goal of the game.
The Werkself number 27 not only posed a threat in Germany's top flight in September. In the two matches in the Europa League group stage, that took place in the ninth month of the year, Wirtz scored crucial goals in both games. Against Ferencváros it was the winner at 2-1 and he netted the second goal at Celtic that silenced the sell-out crowd at Celtic Park.
Congratulations, Flo.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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