“Verena is very talented, ambitious and can play up front on both wings. We are absolutely convinced of her potential,” said Feifel about new signing Wieder. The 20-year-old came through the youth ranks at FC Bayern and went on to make 24 appearances for the first and second teams. She signed for SC Freiburg in 2018 and also played 24 games for the club from the Breisgau.
Wieder tore a cruciate in a friendly in January 2020 and is now looking to get stuck in again after recovering from injury. “First of all, I’d like to say thank you for the confidence shown in me. It’s not a matter of course to be given a chance like that after such a serious injury. I’d like to help the team on the pitch as soon as possible and I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my career,” said Wieder. The winger has played for all the Germany youth teams from the U15s.
Kögel is joining Leverkusen from Bayern Munich. As with Wieder, the 20-year-old, who plays in central midfield, has also played for all the Germany youth teams from the U15s up. In addition, Kögel has mainly played in Bundesliga 2: Born in Neu-Ulm, she was at VfL Sindelfingen Ladies from 2016 to 2017; in 2017/18 she moved on to FC Bayern where she made three appearances for the first team and 57 for the reserves.
“I’m really looking forward to the new challenge and being able to take the next steps in the Bundesliga. The positive talks and professional conditions impressed me from the start. I can hardly wait to join the girls on the pitch,” said Kögel. Her future coach Feifel explained: “Kristin is dangerous in front of goal from central and attacking midfield. She will liven up our attacking game with her creativity.”
The Bayer 04 players were put through their paces at the Werkstatt – the club’s rehabilitation and training centre – on Sunday as they completed the first and main part of this year’s performance diagnostics. New signings Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Axel Tape, as well as players returning from their holidays, all did the customary medical and athletic tests.
Show moreThe team departs for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday for the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour 2025 from July 14-24. The preseason journey marks a change from recent training camps in the Austrian Alps and Black Forest and we caught up with CEO Fernando Carro to ask him about this summer's visit to Brazil.
Show moreMalik Tillman and the USA could not quite achieve the hoped-for big win in their own country. Last Monday’s final in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston ended up in a 2-1 defeat for the hosts against Mexico. But the Bayer 04 new signing can be very happy with the course of the tournament and his own performances. Tillman was in the starting line-up for all six games. That concluded an impressive season for him after winning the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven. Bayer04.de profiles the 23-year-old new signing.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the USA international Malik Tillman. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder joins the Werkself from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. Tillman, with German roots and born in Nuremberg, has a contract at Leverkusen to 30 June 2030. He scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 34 games for PSV last season. Three of those goals and two assists were in six matches in the UEFA Champions League.
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