
The players have been back on the pitch together since 8 September. After discussions with Dr Karl-Heinrich Dittmar, medical director and pandemics officer at Bayer 04, and the management at the Kurtekotten Academy, training was moved to the Kurt-Rieß-Anlage pitch to avoid coming into contact with other teams and to maintain the hygiene protocols. A large number of players were back for the first week of training.
The Bayer 04 Veterans have their first game since the enforced break in two weeks time. The Black and Reds are away to the team from the Rhineland Palatinate SG Hoppstädten-Weiersbach in the German Over 40s Cup on Saturday, 3 October. The competition was interrupted in March by the coronavirus pandemic. All clubs still involved in the competition have declared they want to complete the cup by the end of the year while adhering to all the health and safety measures.
The Bayer 04 Over 40s team beat SV 04 Attendorn 1-0 in the first round of the cup last November.


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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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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The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.
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Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.
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The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.
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