Paulinho was on the training ground long before his team-mates in wonderful spring weather conditions. After Kevin Volland, Karim Bellarabi and Co. arrived and had completed the warm-up routine, there was more intensive work with the ball. After just more than an hour, Bosz let the U19 youngsters Herdi Bukusu, Ömer Tokac, Ayman Azhil, Marc Lamti, keeper Marcel Lotka plus U17 player Yannick Schlösser go and he concentrated on working on moves with his players with breaks from time to time to explain tactics.
Dominik Kohr spent the final session working one-on-one on a neighbouring pitch with assistant coach Xaver Zembrod and Sven Bender did not complete the training session either but instead returned to the dressing room a few minutes early. Joel Pohjanpalo, who returned to full training for the first time this week, carried on to the end. The Finn certainly did not take it easy in the session – the 24-year-old clearly enjoyed every challenge.
Panos Retsos, who returned to full training last week, is ready to play in tomorrow's friendly against Ajax if required: "It will be a while before I'm fully fit again but I'm back in full training and perhaps I can play tomorrow." The Greece international has been out injured for a long time but he is now on his way back again – not least thanks to the support of his team-mates over recent months: "It's been a difficult year for me. The team have got behind me and really helped. That was important for me – particularly in getting my head straight."
The Werkself will be able to take a short break after tomorrow's friendly with no more full training sessions before Saturday. The next open session is on Sunday at 10.30 CET.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 midfielder Jonah Berghoff ahead of schedule. The Germany U18 international has signed professional terms with the club to 30 June 2030.
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With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
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With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.
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The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.
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