The U19 first choice goalkeeper Marcel Johnen has collected a wealth of experience in training over recent months. Alongside Lukas Hradecky, Lennart Grill and Niklas Lomb, the 18-year-old regularly took part in sessions with the Werkself senior squad. In the coming season, Johnen will be between the sticks for third division FC Saarbrücken. If all works out well then he should make his first professional appearances in Saarland.
FCS sporting director Jürgen Luginger, himself a former player at Bayer 04 (1986/87), said in relation to the new signing from Leverkusen: "With Marcel we are bringing in a talented goalkeeper who we hope to develop as a professional over the next two years. He's really good on the ball."
Johnen's current U19 teammate Niklas Determann is going into the Regional League West. The midfielder is joining Sportfreunde Lotte. Seymour Fünger (Fortuna Köln) and left-back Phil Kemper (Borussia Mönchengladbach U23s) will be in the same league next season.
Luca Wesemann (Alemannia Aachen U19) and Amin Haj-Yahya (FC Nürnberg U19) will spend another season at the same youth level playing in the U19 Bundesliga West or South/South-west respectively.
Confirmed U19 transfers:
Marcel Johnen (FC Saarbrücken)
Niklas Determann (Sportfreunde Lotte)
Seymour Fünger (SC Fortuna Köln)
Phil Kemper (Borussia Mönchengladbach U23)
Luca Wesemann (Alemannia Aachen U19)
Amin Haj-Yahya (FC Nürnberg U19)
Bayer 04 have fond memories of their encounters with Heidenheim, including a resounding 6-0 win in the reverse fixture. Kasper Hjulmand’s side would very much like to produce a similarly clinical display as they now head to the Voith-Arena for Matchday 27 on Saturday (15:30 CET). But they come up against a team fighting for their Bundesliga lives at the bottom of the table, 10 points adrift of safety with time running out. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show more
The Bayer 04 Women welcome FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday night in a white retro look - and in a unique Bayer 04 ‘50 Years of Fan Clubs’ special edition jersey. In sporting terms, head coach Roberto Pätzold's team will face the Bundesliga's bottom team at 18:30 CET looking to keep their chances of third place in the table alive with six games left to play.
Show more
Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action this weekend. Following their elimination in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the Werkself are away to FC Heidenheim 1846 on Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday 27. Ahead of the clash in the eastern Swabian Alps, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the importance of the fixture and the chances of qualifying for the Champions League next term.
Show more
A quick look at the table shows the situation at FC Heidenheim is serious. The Bundesliga bottom club are already ten points behind the play-off spot with their backs to the wall in sporting terms. With eight games left to play, avoiding relegation appears to be a mission impossible. Nevertheless, they are far from flying the white flag at the Schlossberg ahead of the clash with the Werkself this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off: 15:30 CET). The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without the two strikers in the immediate future. Caroline Kehrer suffered a torn ligament in her right knee and Amy Wrigge tore her cruciate ligament.
Show more
