In the spring and summer of last year, a number of Werkself players similarly made the day of children at the Bayer 04 Soccer School. This time it was Nadiem Amiri who was happy to field a host of questions from the curious children and teenagers.
90 children came together after lunch and a stadium tour in the press conference room at the BayArena and eagerly awaited the arrival of the midfielder. There was huge applause when Amiri entered the room. The vocal welcome was followed by plenty of questions. The 6- to 14-year-olds questions included: "When did you start playing football?," "Who is your favourite player?," What's a day in the life of a professional footballer like?" Amiri revealed that his favourite game in a black and red shirt was the 4-3 home win against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga in the 2019/20 season where he set up two goals.
One of the children wanted to know what Amiri was thinking when he made his Bundesliga debut. The answer from the 25-year-old midfielder: "It was one of the best days of my life. I always wanted to be a professional football player and I'm grateful for that every day. I came onto the pitch back then in the game against VfL Wolfsburg and I was thrown into the deep end straightaway because it felt like I only got to know about it 30 minutes earlier." The question about who he gets on best within the team set our number 11 thinking: "I actually got on very well with everybody." He added: "But I've known Kerem (Demirbay, ed), Karim (Bellarabi,ed) and Jonathan (Tah, ed), the longest – and I can speak German to them and that's not bad either. (He laughs)"
Following the round of questions there was obviously time for lots of autographs and photos. The 25-year-old Werkself midfielder signed shirts, shorts and boots and also mobile phone cases. After a group photograph, Amiri headed off to training leaving behind a roomful of beaming and clearly happy youngsters in the press conference room at the BayArena. The children then had another training session.
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.
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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.
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The Bayer 04 Women’s squad for the coming season is continuing to take shape: Centre-back Emily Wallrabenstein has moved to Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt’s reserve team, who play in the Women’s Bundesliga 2. The 19-year-old has penned a contract until 30 June 2028.
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Bayern 04 Women have confirmed another summer signing, with midfielder Paulina Platner moving to Leverkusen from SGS Essen. The 20-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Werkself.
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