"Maja has developed into a key player and an international at Bremen," explained Achim Feifel, sporting director of Bayer 04 Women. "She'll make us even more variable in attack and will give us a different profile in our attacking play with her dynamism and deep runs. She's also aggressive without the ball and a hardworking team player. We're looking forward to her arrival."
Born in Germany of Slovenian descent, Sternad moved to Bremen in 2021 from second-tier club DSC Arminia Bielefeld. She's scored 13 goals in 107 appearances in all competitions for Werder, including three in 23 games in the current campaign along with five assists. Having represented Germany at U15, U19 and U20 level, she switched allegiance to Slovenia, her father's homeland. She's won 10 caps for the senior team to date, registering one goal.
"The talks with Bayer 04 went very well and I immediately had a good gut feeling, so I didn't have to think long about making this move," said Sternad. "I'm very happy with the decision and I'm sure that we'll have a very good new season together, hopefully crowned with qualification for the Champions League."
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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