
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.


Ecuador international Piero Hincapie, who moved to Arsenal FC on loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the 2025/26 season, will join the English champions permanently on 1 July 2026.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro will lead a club delegation to Brazil from July 2-6 for a program of partner engagement, community activities and football development initiatives across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
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In glorious sunshine and temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius, the Bayer 04 Women have begun their preparations for the new season. With a relaxed first session at the Kurtekotten training centre, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team became the first Bundesliga side to resume training after a 37-day break.
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Black and Red stand out. Under the slogan ‘Diversity under the Cross’, Bayer 04 took part in Pride on the Rhine at the weekend alongside the queer fan club “Bayer 04 Junxx”. The club mascot, Brian the Lion, and several members of staff were also in attendance, championing diversity and solidarity.
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