Back
13.07.2023Bayer 04

Xhaka completes first training session at Bayer 04

The Werkself started preseason ahead of the 2023/24 campaign at the start of the week. Head coach Xabi Alonso welcomed summer signing Granit Xhaka on the training ground the first time on Thursday morning 13 July.
crop_20230713_NB_B04_Training_90167.jpg

The 90-minute training session for the Werkself squad started punctually at 10.30 CEST. Amongst the players present was Granit Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen from Premier League runners-up Arsenal at the start of July, and now on the training ground with his new teammates for the first time.

The first training session for the 30-year-old Switzerland international was again watched by a large number of Bayer 04 fans. They saw several players from the youth teams who completed stretching and coordination drills as well as finishing practice together with Xhaka and Co.

 

crop_20230713_NB_B04_Training_90166.jpg

There was a small surprise towards the end of the training session: Robert Andrich, who is currently completing rehab at the Werkstatt in the BayArena, joined his teammates as a spectator in the final minutes of training.

Xhaka, who completed an individual running session with fitness coach Ismael Camenforte Lopez

after the session, was one of the last to leave the pitch – and, of course, he was very much in demand with the fans for photos and autographs.

Many of the supporters, as usual, had shorts, rucksacks and shirts – including the new Werkself home shirt for the 2023/24 season – signed. The new home shirt went on sale this week. If you want to get the new shirt: HERE is the online shop.

crop_Xhaka_4.jpg

first press conference with  Xhaka on friday

After Xhaka has now started full training and got to know the squad, the Switzerland international will face his first press conference since his move to Leverkusen on Friday 14 July when he will talk about his first impressions at Bayer 04. The statements of the 30-year-old midfielder will be available on the Bayer 04 club channels afterwards.

 

Related News

Konstantinos_Kotsifakis.jpg
Bayer 04 - 03.06.2026

Konstantinos Kotsifakis set for assistant coach role with Bayer 04 U19s

Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.

Show more
BayArena
Bayer 04 - 03.06.2026

Runner-up for Pitch of the Year: Bayer 04 again recognised for outstanding pitch quality

Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.

Show more
Bundesliga
Bundesliga - 02.06.2026

2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list out on 2 July

Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.

Show more
Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.06.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn’s June highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more