
“Pauline expressed her desire to gain academic and sporting experience abroad. We are happy to oblige,” said Thomas Eichin, head of the Youth and Women’s sections at Bayer 04. “She’s a player with potential and great ambition. She will be able to compare herself with the best at the college over there.”
Pauline Machtens has a full-time grant to study at Syracuse University and she will also be able to carry on playing professional football for the college team. The team is in the ACC, one of the oldest leagues in American university sport. “Syracuse University offers me a real challenge and I’m grateful to Bayer 04 for allowing me to make this move,” said Machtens. “I’d like to take this opportunity to be a better player and I’m really excited at being able to start a new adventure.”
Pauline Machtens started playing at Leverkusen with the U13s; in 2019/20 she moved up from the junior section to the Women’s squad. She has made nine appearances to date.

Bayer 04 host RB Leipzig at the BayArena on matchday 4 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game is on Sunday 20 September with the kick-off at 15:30 CEST. The latest information on ticket sales.
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Bayer 04 host SC Freiburg at the BayArena on matchday 6 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. The game will be played between 16 and 18 October. The exact kick-off time has yet to be confirmed. The latest information on ticket sales.
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With the European season ticket, fans can follow and support the Werkself on the European stage during the 2026/27 season – and are guaranteed a ticket and a seat for every UEL home match at the BayArena, right up to and including a potential semi-final. In addition, holders of the European season ticket save 20 per cent on each UEL ticket.
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A successful end to pre-season! In their seventh and final friendly of the summer, the Werkself won 2-1 at Newcastle United. After Ibrahim Maza scored inside the first minute, the Magpies equalised shortly before the break. Bayer 04's attacking endeavours in the second half were rewarded in the closing stages through substitute Victor Boniface, making it six wins from seven games in pre-season.
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Bayer 04 Women warmed up for the start of the Bundesliga season with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Belgian top-flight club Standard Liège on Saturday afternoon. Over four periods of 30 minutes, Cornelia Kramer, Lilla Turanyi and Valentina Mädl each netted a brace for the dominant Werkself, after Loreen Bender had opened the scoring. Roberto Pätzold's side kick off their league campaign at RB Leipzig in eight days.
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