“Karólína was an exhilarating addition straightaway last season and she strengthened our attacking game. She also fitted in perfectly with the team on a personal level and she made it clear to us she really feels at home here in Leverkusen," said Achim Feifel, the Bayer 04 Women's team sporting director: "Therefore, we are very happy we have agreed a new loan deal with FC Bayern. Everybody involved will continue to benefit from it."
Vilhjálmsdóttir joined Leverkusen on loan from the Munich side last summer. In 22 appearances in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the 22-year-old scored five goals and provided seven assists putting her level with striker Nikola Karczewska as the best scorer and provider at Bayer 04. She scored once in three DFB Pokal matches. The midfielder has scored nine goals in 39 international appearances for Iceland.
"For me, everything was right here with the girls and the staff from the start. I was able to assume an important role in the team immediately, I have developed as a player and learned to take on more responsibility," said Vilhjálmsdóttir: "It was a heartfelt wish of mine to stay here for another year. I had a very good conversation with our new coach and I'm firmly convinced we will have a strong squad for next season."
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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