Back
13.03.2024Youth

Six youth players called up for U17 Euros qualifiers

A number of Bayer 04 youth players have been called up to represent their countries in the March international break. That includes three Leverkusen players joining up with Germany’s U17s. One player has also already qualified for the U17 Euros with his country. Here’s all you need to know about the Werkself’s youth call-ups.
crop_20231007_FS_U17vsSCP_79536.jpg

Germany U19 boss Christian Wörns has named defenders Anton Bäuerle and Reno Münz on stand-by for his squad for the three qualifying games to reach this summer’s Euros finals in Northern Ireland. The team will face Croatia, Romania and Turkey between 20 and 26 March in Croatia.

Filip Milojevic and Austria will take on Kosovo, Slovenia and Spain. Noah Pesch will represent Croatia against Germany, Turkey and Romania.

Three in Germany U17s squad

The 20-man squad for Germany’s U17s includes three Leverkusen youngsters for the qualifying triple header in Portugal. Naba Mensah, Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka have all been called up to take on Croatia, Ireland and Portugal between 20 and 26 March. Jesper Schlich, Francesco Buono and Ken Izekor have also been named as stand-by.

Three more Werkself youngsters are also competing for a place at the U17 Euros. Kerim Alajbegovic is with Bosnia and Herzegovina to face Poland, Czechia and Belarus. Marton Szep and Hungary take on France, England and Northern Ireland.

Artem Stepanov and Ukraine have already secured their place at the summer’s finals in Cyprus after beating Greece, Switzerland and Slovakia earlier in the month by an aggregate score of 8-0.

Pair of U16s

Germany’s U16s have two games against Spain and Italy in Pirmasens on 22 and 25 March respectively, including Ben Hawighorst and Jeremiah Mensah. Coach Marc Meister has also named Nebe Sirak Domnic on stand-by.

Koc with U15s in Frankfurt

Germany’s U15s will be training at the DFB Campus in Frankfurt between 17 and 22 March. Christian Wück and his assistant, former Bayer 04 player Jens Nowotny, have called up Leverkusen’s Halil Koc for the camp.

Overview of call-ups for March

Germany U19: Anton Bäuerle (stand-by), Reno Münz (stand-by)

Germany U17: Naba Mensah, Montrell Culbreath, Francis Onyeka, Jesper Schlich (stand-by), Francesco Buono (stand-by), Ken Izekor (stand-by)

Germany U16: Ben Hawighorst, Jeremiah Mensah, Nebe Sirak Domnic (stand-by)

Germany U15: Halil Koc

Austria U19: Filip Milojevic

Croatia U19: Noah Pesch

Croatia U14: Gabriel Minutillo

Bosnia and Herzegovina U17: Kerim Alajbegovic

Hungary U17: Marton Szep

Ukraine U17: Artem Stepanov

Related News

Autogrammstunde
Bayer 04 - 28.08.2026

Fanwelt event following UEL draw: Autograph session with Culbreath and Sergio

The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.

Show more
Exequiel Palacios
Bayer 04 - 27.08.2026

Exequiel Palacios joins Ipswich Town

After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.

Show more
Exequiel Palacios mit der Meisterschale
Bayer 04 - 27.08.2026

¡Gracias, Pala! – Farewell after six and a half years at Leverkusen

When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.

Show more
Die schönsten Tore von Exequiel Palacios
Werkself-TV - 27.08.2026

Exequiel Palacios' top goals

To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.

Show more