Merle Barth joined the Bayer 04 U17 squad in 2009; the defender made her debut in the Women's Bundesliga the following season and went on to make 144 appearances. The 26-year-old earned a regular berth in the team and wore the captain's armband at the start of this campaign. "We'd like to thank Merle for the past eleven years at Leverkusen. She is an outstanding player and remained loyal to the club in good times and less good times. We wish her all the best and good health in her professional and personal future," said Linda Schöttler, section head of women's football at Bayer 04.
Lena Uebach joined the Bayer 04 Women in 2017/18 as a U17 European Champion. The 19-year-old signed for Leverkusen in the second division from fourth division Sportfreunde Siegen. After one season, she helped Leverkusen get promoted to the top flight. The striker made 58 appearances for the Black and Reds. "Lena played a big part in us getting promoted again and has matured a lot in the last three years. We are very proud of having been able to play our part in her brilliant development and we wish her all the best for the new challenge at Turbine Potsdam," said Schöttler.
The situation ahead of the showdown is clear - and promising. The Bayer 04 U19s host Newcastle United on the sixth and final matchday of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League phase. A win at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium would see the Werkself go through to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time. Ahead of the clash on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/livestream on bayer04.de and in the Bayer 04 app), coach Kevin Brok spoke about the successful build-up, his assessment of the match and the danger of underestimating the already eliminated English side.
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The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
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The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
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