
Marti’s contract in Leverkusen was due to expire this summer. Her transfer is for an undisclosed fee. The defender is the second Switzerland international to leave Bayer 04 this January, after Amira Arfaoui joined Nürnberg.
The 24-year-old first came to Leverkusen from Basel in summer 2020, making 55 competitive appearances for Bayer 04 and scoring one goal. Marti has struggled this season with a thigh injury that has restricted her to only two substitute appearances in the Bundesliga and one in the DFB-Pokal. The left-back was named alongside Arfaoui in the Switzerland squad for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, coming on late in the 5-1 last-16 defeat to eventual champions Spain.
“Lara came to us with the desire for a new challenge,” said Achim Feifel, head of Bayer 04 Women. “We’d like to thank her for her years of commitment to the club and wish her all the best in Leipzig.”

Bayer 04 turned in a dominant performance in a 7-0 win against fifth-tier side Sportfreunde Baumberg in their first friendly ahead of the 2026/27 season. A brace from debutant Afonso Moreira (19', 27') either side of a Christian Kofane strike (23') put the Werkself 3-0 up in the first of the two 35-minute halves in Monheim am Rhein. After the break, Victor Boniface (49', 53'), Robert Andrich (56') and Nathan Tella (67') scored for the completely changed Leverkusen team. It was therefore a successful friendly debut for new head coach Carles Martínez and his team, although the hosts also had something to celebrate despite the defeat: the match marked the inauguration of Baumberg's new ground, the MEGA Stadion.
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Attention, Werkself fans: the new Away Matchday Collection is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt. It includes t-shirts, zip tops and jackets.
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Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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