
In preparation for the first pre-season friendly against Wuppertaler SV on Saturday (17.00 CET, live on Bayer 04, Facebook and YouTube), head coach Peter Bosz included eight Werkself youth players - Ayman Azhil, Kevin Bukusu, Yannik Schlösser, Adrian Stanilewicz, Cem Tuna-Türkmen, Samed Onur and Marco Wolf plus keeper Marcel Lotka - in today's training session – in part because the international players are only due to return to the club on Sunday after the internationals in early June.
One international was back in Leverkusen in the middle of the week: Aleksandar Dragovic. After the minor muscle injury the 28-year-old suffered in the 4-1 win for Austria against North Macedonia, he completed an individual session with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin and physiotherapist Sven Elsinger on a neighbouring pitch.


In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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Black and Red talent development at the highest level – even off the pitch: Apprentices Jule Suermann, Leandra Bellia and Julia Niederheide have successfully completed their two- or three-year apprenticeships at the club. Bayer 04 honoured the trio at the BayArena on Tuesday.
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The Werkself return tomorrow, Tuesday 14 July (from 11:00 CEST at the BayArena; live stream on bayer04.de, the Bayer 04 app and YouTube), with new head coach Carles Martínez leading his first training session as part of the Bayer 04 set-up. His coaching team comprises a mix of new and long-standing colleagues.
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The Germany U19 team were beaten 2-0 by record champions Spain in the final of the U19 European Championship in Wales. Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan at SV 07 Elversberg) were in the starting line-up and played the full 90 minutes.
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