Back
3.09.2025eSports

#B04eSports: A new addition to the "B04eAcademy under the Cross"

In cooperation with the Academy of eSports, ambitious gamers were once again given the chance this summer to secure a place in the #B04eSports team via a multi-stage tournament format. Keanu Senkbeil was selected by committee, making the 18-year-old the new eTalent at Bayer 04 and giving him the opportunity to develop both as a player and personally and gain his first experience in the world of professional virtual football.
eSports

The talented Senkbeil took third place in the big offline final, which was staged at the BayArena in mid-August after the online preliminary round, and he played his way into the selection committee's focus with his performance. He showed great potential and will therefore be part of the Bayer 04 squad for the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL) in the coming season.

Marc Fiedler, manager eSports at Bayer 04, says: "Keanu impressed us as a person and with his performance at the eAcademy tournament. We are convinced he will strengthen the VBL squad in the medium to long term."

Professional contract and Coaching

As a new eTalent at Bayer 04, Senkbeil will receive an eSports talent contract and weekly coaching over the 2025/26 season to improve his own skills. From the start of EA FC 26, Senkbeil will join Markus Hüttemann, last year's eTalent, in the training sessions and go through the development programme together with him.

Related News

Frauen unterliegen im Pokal-Achtefinale in München | Achteflinale DFB-Pokal
Werkself-TV - 01.11.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 0-1 loss at FC Bayern

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04 Women's 0-1 loss at Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the women's DFB-Pokal 2026/27

Show more
Rüdiger Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.11.2026

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn November 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 working 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
Ibrahim Maza
Bundesliga - 31.10.2026

Werkself suffer first home loss in 4-2 defeat to Stuttgart

Having previously recorded six consecutive home wins across all competitions, Bayer 04 suffered their first home defeat of 2026/27 as they went down 4-2 to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Matchday 8. The visitors capitalised on their first two chances to score, with Ermedin Demirovic and Jamie Leweling finding the net in the first half. Although Patrik Schick got a goal back in the first half, Bilal El Khannouss and Demirovic again added further goals for Stuttgart. Bayer 04 didn’t give up, but Ibrahim Maza’s goal proved little more than a consolation.

Show more
20261018_FS1_6607.jpg
Bundesliga - 31.10.2026

Matchday news: Take cup momentum into Stuttgart home game

Fans at the BayArena got to enjoy a spectacle on Wednesday as the Werkself came from behind to beat Nürnberg 5-2 in the DFB Pokal. Now with the sixth home game of the season, can Bayer 04 maintain their perfect record in Leverkusen as VfB Stuttgart come to town in the Bundesliga on Saturday (15:30 CET)? The visitors have had issues domestically this term, sitting in 15th place, although they have had much better results in the UEFA Champions League. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 8 encounter…

Show more
Rafaela Borggräfe
Women - 30.10.2026

‘Put in a top performance’: Women’s side take on holders Bayern Munich in DFB Pokal Round of 16

The Bayern Munich women’s football team are unbeaten in all domestic competitions in the last 62 matches. On Sunday (15:00 CET), the Bayer 04 women’s team will make their next attempt to end the holders unbeaten run in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie. For coach Roberto Pätzold, there are a number of factors that give the Werkself cause for optimism despite the high-calibre opposition.

Show more