
“With Nina, we’ve been able to sign an established Bundesliga player for our defence who will bring a wealth of experience to the team. She’s an absolutely positive character with a strong desire to win and that will very much help our team,” said head coach Achim Feifel, who was at Hamburg SV with the new signing.
Brüggemann has clocked up 125 Bundesliga appearances and has also played in 14 DFB Cup ties and 17 games in the Bundesliga Second Division North. The 27-year-old made her top-flight debut for HSV under Feifel in 2009. She then joined the USA college team Sun Devils at the Arizona State University in 2012. Brüggemann signed for Bundesliga newcomers BV Cloppenburg for the 2013/14 campaign. After another season in second division, the player born in Pinneberg (Schleswig-Holstein) moved on to SGS Essen.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.
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Ken Izekor is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join third-tier side Alemannia Aachen with immediate effect. The 19-year-old centre-forward joined the club from Alemannia in 2018, and Izekor is now returning to his hometown.
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The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.
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Bayer 04 have named Jorginho, a 1994 World Cup winner with Brazil, an official club legend. He is the second former Werkself player, after Paulo Sergio, to be accorded this special honour. For many years, the former Leverkusen defender has been deeply committed to helping people in need in his home city of Rio de Janeiro. More than 25 years ago, Jorginho launched the Bola pra Frente project, through which he uses the money he earned as a player – including during his time at Bayer 04 – to support children and young people in the favelas in particular. During a trip to Brazil lasting several days, Fernando Carro, CEO at Bayer 04, assured Jorginho of the club’s support for Bola pra Frente for at least another five years.
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Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.
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