At the end of 2021, versatile forward Kanga achieved promotion with the first team of the Stockholm club, as clear league leaders, to the Superettan, the second-tier in Sweden. The future Leverkusen player scored five goals in 23 league games and also provided one assist. The left footer made his debut in the third division in April of last year at the age of 15 years and three months.
"Jardell Kanga will strengthen our U19s straightaway," said Thomas Eichin, head of the Performance Centre at Bayer 04, about the Swedish talent who has attracted interest from other clubs across Europe. "He has gained a lot of experience in senior football for his age. In addition, Jardell provides a goal threat, is quick and he can play in different positions up front."
As usual, the transfer takes account of the international transfer arrangements and is subject to final approval from FIFA.
Photo: A Black and Red future: Jardell Kanga (right) with U19 head coach Sven Hübscher.
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
