The Poland international joined the Werkself last summer and is now one of the regular starters in the team in her role as a tough midfield dynamo. Matysik played in seven out of twelve games before the winter break before being sidelined for several weeks with a back problem. The midfielder made her comeback at the weekend against SGS Essen.
"Bayer 04 are the first club abroad for Sylwia. She's fitted in brilliantly with us and taken her chance. We are happy to be able to work with her for another two years," said Linda Schöttler, general manager of the Bayer 04 Women's team, looking forward positively to the forthcoming seasons. Head coach Achim Feifel said: "Sylwia has progressed really well with us over the past year. She is a ball-winner, has an outstanding winning mentality and brings a lot of energy to the pitch with her athleticism."
After striker Milena Nikolic agreed an early contract extension at the start of the year and the goalkeeper Friederike Abt (from VfL Wolfsburg) and Dina Blagojević (SC Sand) became the first two summer signings, the personnel plans for next season are taking shape. Frederike Kempe, who signed for Leverkusen in 2015, and home-grown player Selina Garofalo, who moved up to the senior squad from the second team in 2020, are set to leave at the end of the season. The contracts with the two defenders have not been extended. "We would like to thank Frederike and Selina for their games in a Bayer 04 shirt and wish both of them all the best for the future, both in terms of football and also personally," said Schöttler.
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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