The agreement to the summer of 2024 covers the Trive logo on the Werkself shirt sleeve for Bayer 04 Bundesliga fixtures and matches in European cup competitions. The Werkself are in the UEFA Champions League in 2022/23. Other provisions in the contract included a comprehensive presence of the new Premium Partner on the perimeter TV hoardings at the BayArena as well as promotional and digital activities.
“We are delighted to welcome Trive as our jersey sleeve sponsor,”said Bayer 04 sporting managing director Rudi Völler who signed the contract alongside the Trive chairman Engin Çubukçu. “The upcoming season will be extremely exciting for the club, not only in terms of sport. We aim to confirm our recent successes as an organisation by continuing to improve both on and off the pitch,” Völler added. “We want to set new standards in that respect with Trive as a partner.”
For Çubukçu the agreement with Bayer 04 is “is an exciting new partnership for Trive, as we aim to tap into our ethos of forward movement. We share a joint endeavour to explore and seize opportunities, ” declared Çubukçu. “Our brand is all about embracing new opportunities and horizons. We believe the cooperation between Trive and Bayer 04 Leverkusen will make that clear.”
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
Show more
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
Show more
Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
Show more
Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
Show more
