
Holiday periods in Leverkusen are always time for the Bayer 04 soccer school. And for the 100 participants at the holiday camp there was a highlight on Wednesday: the traditional visit from a Bayer 04 first team player. This time it was the turn of Joel Pohjanpalo to spend an hour at the media centre at the BayArena to answer all the questions posed by the youngsters.
Above all else the main question concerned the fitness of the Finn after his fractured metatarsal. "I'm doing pretty well so far," said Pohjanpalo before adding: "I hope to be back in December." Following the Q and A session the 22-year-old was busy signing autographs and posing for selfies with the kids.
Meeting a Werkself pro was again the highlight of the Bayer 04 soccer school. The rest of the content of the week was also well worthwhile and provided some exciting days for the participants. The itinerary included professional training and a whole host of insights behind the scenes at Bundesliga club. The youngsters were looked after by train coaches and food and equipment were also provided.


Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
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Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
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Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
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The next footballing highlight is just around the corner: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 23rd edition of the tournament, will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico and feature 48 teams for the first time. Bayer04.de has all the latest on the Werkself players called up to represent their countries.
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