In 2024, Granit Xhaka with Bayer 04 celebrated winning the first German league title in the club's history as well as the DFB Pokal and the Supercup. The midfield maestro also impressed with Switzerland at Euro 2024 and again reached the quarter-finals as in the previous European Championship finals. The captain of the national side was voted Man of the Match in the first and third group matches and now has 135 international caps. Granit Xhaka was also the first Swiss player since 1996 to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or last year and he ended up in sixteenth place. Last week, the 32-year-old was voted MVP 2024, the most valuable player of the year, at the Swiss sport gala Sports Awards 2024.
Xhaka, connected online to the Swiss Football Night in Bern, said of his award: "It wasn't just my year. It was our year, with a great Euros. It was outstanding to win the trophies with the club but also celebrate the successes with the national team. I'd like to thank everybody once again. Above all, Murat Yakin (Switzerland head coach, ed.) who supported me both in training as well as privately.
Information on voting process in German is available HERE.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen continue cooperation with proven sleeve partner Talcid in the coming DFB Pokal campaign. In the current season, the famous Bayer brand – starting with the first round tie at Baden-Württemberg Regional League side SG Sonnenhof Großaspach on Friday – will be displayed with the historic chameleon logo on the right sleeve of the Werkself players jerseys. Bayer 04 won the DFB Pokal for the first time in 1993 with that logo on their chests – Talcid was the official jersey sponsor of the Werkself from 1991 to 1995.
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The Werkself host Eintracht Frankfurt at the BayArena on Matchday 3 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Kick-off is at 20:30 CEST on Friday, 12 September. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself host Borussia Mönchengladbach at the BayArena on Matchday 4 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Kick-off is at 17:30 CEST on Sunday, 21 September. Information on ticket sales.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Janis Blaswich! Bayer 04 have signed the 34-year-old goalkeeper from Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig. The 2023 DFB Cup winner has been handed a contract in Leverkusen until 2027 and will wear the number 28 jersey. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the experienced new signing, who marks a return to his home region with his move under the cross.
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New signing Axel Tape has impressed in his first friendlies for Bayer 04 with his cool approach and confidence. For the defender, signed from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, it is the first time he has played for another club other than the Champions League winners. The Frenchman consciously decided early in his career to make the move abroad to Bayer 04. Today, Sunday, Tape celebrates his 18th birthday. Bayer04.de spoke to him about his first weeks at Leverkusen, his versatile style of play and his targets for the year ahead.
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