Bayer 04 agree contract extension with U23 international Sofie Zdebel ahead of schedule

"Sofie has developed into one of the top midfielders in the Bundesliga in recent years. She's also proving her class internationally with the Germany U23s. As a strategist and leader in central midfield, she's an incredibly important building block for our goal of developing into a top team in the near future," said Bayer 04 Women sporting director Achim Feifel: "This season, she's taken on even more responsibility within the team and has already worn the captain's armband. We're certain her journey is far from over and are delighted she'll continue to take her next steps at Bayer 04."

Zdebel, who made her maiden appearance for the Werkself in the U17 Bundesliga in 2017, made her Women’s Bundesliga debut in March 2021 at the age of 16. Since then, she's made 98 competitive appearances for Leverkusen, scoring three goals. Zdebel has already made 46 appearances (scoring three goals) for the German Football Association (DFB) youth teams from the U15s to the U23s; among other things, she took part in the 2022 U19 European Championship and the 2024 U20 World Cup.

“I’ve extended my contract because I’ve been able to develop steadily along with the team here at Bayer 04 over the past few years ,” said Zdebel. “During our discussions, I’ve become increasingly convinced that something big is taking shape here and that, together, we can consistently challenge the top three. Leverkusen remains the right place for me to help shape this journey and take on even more responsibility in the future.”