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Contract until 2031: Defensive ace Edmond Tapsoba commits long-term to Bayer 04
Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
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Tapsoba on his contract extension until 2031: 'A very special day for me'
A special surprise: during the preview for the 'Fierté Burkinabè' documentary about Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes announced Tapsoba's contract extension until 2031 together with the centre-back. He then spoke to Werkself-TV about his time in Leverkusen so far and future ambitions...
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Emotional preview of ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ - Tapsoba's parents and close companions from Burkina Faso also at the BayArena
This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
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Werkself Review #KOEB04: Derby winning run extended thanks to 'clinical conversion'
The fifth consecutive derby win over 1. FC Köln was a hugely significant one in terms of the battle for the UEFA Champions League places. Goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, speaking for the whole team, dedicated the 2-1 victory in the cathedral city to the travelling support: "I'm especially happy about this victory for our fans!" Get the rest of the reaction from those involved and the media, as well as some impressive stats on two-goal hero Patrik Schick and a look at the all-time Bundesliga table, in the Werkself Review.
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TV highlights of 2-1 win at 1. FC Köln
Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-1 win at 1. FC Köln on Matchday 31 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
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Former Germany international Carolin Simon rejoins Bayer 04
Bayer 04 have signed left-back Carolin Simon from champions Bayern Munich for the coming season. The 33-year-old former Germany international, who played for Leverkusen from 2013 to 2016, has signed a contract to 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Women sign Dutch striker Lobke Loonen
Bayer 04 Women have strengthened for the coming season with the signing of Lobke Loone. The 23-year-old Dutch striker joins from Utrecht on a contract until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Women reach 40 points with comfortable home win over Freiburg
The Werkself returned from the near one-month break in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga with a convincing victory at home. Roberto Pätzold's side beat SC Freiburg 4-1 on Sunday afternoon, with goals from Katharina Piljic, Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Cornelia Kramer and Carlotta Wamser ensuring a 13th win of the season at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The Black and Reds, who are now on 40 points, move up to fourth place at least overnight.
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‘Be brave and give our all’: Women ready for run-in ahead of Freiburg clash
The Werkself kick off the key phase of the season in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga with a home match against SC Freiburg. On Sunday afternoon, 26 April (kick-off: 16:00 CEST), only a win will do for coach Roberto Pätzold's team in the race for third place.
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Jeremiah Mensah signs professional contract with Bayer 04
Bayer 04 youth player Jeremiah Mensah has signed a professional contract that will keep the attacking midfielder in Leverkusen until 30 June 2031.
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Junior talent day in spring: Open trials on 12 April
Do you dream of wearing the Bayer cross on your chest? To play in black and red like your role models Loreen Bender, Cornelia Kramer, Kristin Kögel and co. from the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga? Then take your chance now! Our female youth teams are once again on the lookout for new talent. That's why Bayer 04 are organising a talent day on 12 April 2026 for the first time this year with trials for female juniors.
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U19 forward Márton Szép joins Hungarian league leaders ETO FC
Márton Szép from the Bayer 04 Leverkusen U19 team is moving back to his home country with immediate effect to join ETO FC, the current leaders of the top flight in Hungary.
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3-2 at Villarreal - U19s lose in the last 32 of the Youth League
The Bayer 04 U19s have bowed out of the UEFA Youth League following a thrilling knockout game. In the round of 32 at Villarreal, Emmanuel Chigozie Owen (11) and Ivan Massek (18) turned an early deficit into a 2-1 half-time lead. However, the Spaniards struck back in the second half to make the final score 3-2, which earned them a place in the round of 16 and brought the Werkself's European campaign to an end.
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Ken Izekor joins Eintracht Braunschweig on loan
Bayer 04 have agreed a loan move for U19s striker Ken Izekor to join Bundesliga 2 club Eintracht Braunschweig on loan for the rest of the 2025/26 season.
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Duo with double the fun: Andrich and Blaswich at the BarmeniaGothaer children's press conference
Captain Robert Andrich and keeper Janis Blaswich were guests at the children's press conference organised by BarmeniaGothaer in cooperation with the Bayer 04 Löwenclub on Wednesday afternoon. In the press conference room at the BayArena, the duo, who are friends away from the pitch and in great spirits, answered the unusual questions from around 50 inquisitive young journalists and young football players - and provided plenty of laughs with a lot of humour.
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Hradecky's successor: Mark Flekken new patron of Lions Club
Just in time for its 30th anniversary, the Lions Club is getting a new patron: Bayer 04 goalkeeper Mark Flekken is taking over the role from Lukas Hradecky, who showed great commitment and passion for the youngest Werkself fans in recent years. The Dutchman, who is himself the father of two daughters, will accompany Lions Club events and activities and be a role model for the children with his warm and positive manner.
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Members meeting with Fernando Carro: ‘We do everything for our fans'
There was a very special event for 50 of the over 70,000 Bayer 04 Club members on the afternoon of the Bayer 04 season launch event: At the press conference room at the BayArena, CEO Fernando Carro fielded lots and somewhat different questions from the fans. The Spaniard, under whose leadership since 2018 the number of members at Bayer 04 has almost tripled, shared his personal insight into the most important decision of his life and his way of managing staff.
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Season opener: Friendly against Pisa at the BayArena
The Werkself will welcome Serie A newcomers Pisa SC to the BayArena for a friendly on Tuesday, 5 August (kick-off: 18:00 CEST / stadium opens: 15:00) as part of the season opener celebrations. Bayer 04 will offer fans a lively and varied supporting programme on the stadium concourse. Ahead of kick-off, both the men's and women's senior squads will be introduced on the pitch.
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For a good cause: Tapsoba, Maza and Kofane sell exclusive T-shirts at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt
Save the Date: On Thursday, 30 April, individually designed T-shirts go on sale exclusively at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt as part of the "BarmeniaGothaer gives joy" campaign. In the afternoon, between 14:30 and 15:30 CEST, the Werkself players Edmond Tapsoba, Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane will also be at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt - supporting this campaign for a good cause: The Bayer Leverkusen main sponsor will donate the proceeds to the "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba" to put a smile on the faces of people in Tapsoba's home country of Burkina Faso.
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Vote now for Grimaldo or Maza as Player of the Month for April
Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the German Football League (DFL), has announced the six nominees for the Bundesliga Player of the Month award for April - including two Werkself players, Alejandro Grimaldo and Ibrahim Maza. Black and Red fans can vote from now up to Sunday 26 April (23:59 CEST).
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Build-up to Augsburg game - Badé striving for maximum with the Werkself
Bayer 04 are unbeaten in the last seven league games and recently picked up an important away win at Borussia Dortmund. The Werkself will be looking to build on that determined and disciplined display next Saturday, 18 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), at home to FC Augsburg. With a third win in a row, head coach Kasper Hjulmand's team could build up further pressure in the race for Champions League qualification. Defender Loïc Badé spoke of "big goals" with regard to the season run-in after the training session on Tuesday 14 April - probably the most emotional date in Leverkusen's club history.
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At the end of the game, we lay on the sacred turf, drunk with happiness
The calendar read 14 April 2024 when dreams came true: Exactly two years ago today, Bayer 04 clinched the first German league title in the club's history with a 5-0 home win against Werder Bremen. Around that historic date and the unbeaten 2023/24 season, not only numerous wins, jubilation and memories were created, but also extraordinary stories for every single Bayer 04 fan. Stories that are still being written today. Frank Thoma tells one of them.
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Bring the BayArena home: Secure your ‘Unbeaten Champion Seat’
In the summer of 2024, the Werkself became the first unbeaten champions of Germany with an unprecedented run of 51 games without defeat. As part of the routine replacement of the seating at the BayArena at the end of the season, all Bayer 04 fans now have the unique opportunity to purchase one or more of the Unbeaten Champion Seats at the Bayer 04 online shop - and thus bring home a special memento. Season card holders in the seated areas can even secure their own Unbeaten Champion Seat, from where they experienced those emotional and unforgettable moments.
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#B04eSports: Sean Landwehr with chance of title win
Sean Landwehr will be fighting for the German Individual Championship in the final phase of the VBL Grand Final by WOW at the weekend. After the successful online preliminary round last week, the grand final event will be played on Saturday, 18 April and Sunday, 19 April at XPERION in Hamburg. The matches will be broadcast live on Twitch and YouTube. Read on for more information.
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Vote now: 04 Werkself players nominated for Bundesliga Team of the Season 2025/26
Vote now! Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA) and the German Football League (DFL) have launched the vote for the annual Bundesliga Team of the Season. Fans of the Werkself now have the opportunity to nominate 04 Werkself players for the top eleven of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Edmond Tapsoba, Alejandro Grimaldo, Aleix Garcia and Ibrahim Maza have been nominated. Voting closes on Friday, 17 April (18:00 CEST).
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#B04eSports: Sean Landwehr through to Grand Final knockout phase
The Black and Reds continue to fight for the title: Sean Landwehr has secured a place in the final phase of the VBL Grand Finals by WOW. The Leverkusen-born gamer qualified for the knockout phase of the German Individual Championships in the intermediate round. Cousin Marc Landwehr unfortunately missed out on a place in the offline final event.
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#B04eSports: Leverkusen players compete for German individual title
Just over a fortnight ago, Marc and Sean Landwehr narrowly missed out on reaching the final of the DFB ePokal 2026, and now the VBL Grand Final by WOW, the German Individual Championship, awaits them for their last chance of a title in the current eSports season. However, the Leverkusen eSports players must first qualify for the offline knockout round in Hamburg via the online group stage. And the first of initially four matches is already a tough one: in Group 1, Marc still has a score to settle with his mate and opponent Janis ‘jistennsq’ Pütz from Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Sean faces the equally strong Denis ‘Denis’ Müller from VfB Stuttgart in Group 2.
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#B04eSports: Leverkusen hunger for DFB ePokal trophy
The #B04eSports players now have the next chance to win a trophy. After their elimination in the quarter-finals of the VBL Club Championship Final 2025/26, the German club championship, Marc and Sean Landwehr will compete with seven other teams in the finals of the DFB-ePokal 2026 with prize money totalling €65,000. The "highly motivated" Leverkusen team will face the defending champions FOKUS with well-known influencer Elias ‘EliasN97’ Nerlich in the quarter-finals in Frankfurt on Friday, 20 March (from 18:15 CET). The semi-finals and final will be played on Saturday, 21 March.
Show moreSustainability
Inclusion, community and first team autographs: Day of action for women and girls with disabilities
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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Earth Hour 2026: BayArena switches off lights for the planet
On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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'Football has enormous power': Bayer 04 receives Sepp Herberger Award in rehabilitation category
A special award for special social commitment. At this year's ceremony for the Sepp Herberger Awards in Wolfsburg on Monday night, the DFB Sepp Herberger Foundation recognised Bayer 04 in the social rehabilitation category. The Bundesliga club received the prize, together with €12,000, for its great service to inmates, particularly in the Wuppertal-Ronsdorf prison.
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DFL publishes first report on sustainability in German professional football
The DFL (German Football League) has published its first report on sustainability in German professional football. The report highlights substantial developments in the league and at all 36 clubs in Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in recent years. Bayer 04 also played a part in the creation of the report and were involved in compiling the content.
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Sustainability in 2025: Black and Red commitment to people and the environment in Leverkusen and around the world
Sustainability once again had many faces at Bayer 04 in 2025: In community activity, the club supported countless regional campaigns, including the Leverkusener Tafel, the Frauenennotruf Leverkusen e.V. and the homeless aid organisation "Kältegang". But the Black and Reds have also been involved in good causes around the world - including the Young Coaches training programmes in Uganda and Ecuador plus the Genuine World Cup in the USA, where the Inclusion Werkself competed. Bayer 04 was also fully committed to the environment and underwent external and independently certification in accordance with the European environmental management standard EMAS, for example, to analyse and optimise the club’s environmental efforts. Looking back at sustainability in 2025.
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Duo with double the fun: Andrich and Blaswich at the BarmeniaGothaer children's press conference
Captain Robert Andrich and keeper Janis Blaswich were guests at the children's press conference organised by BarmeniaGothaer in cooperation with the Bayer 04 Löwenclub on Wednesday afternoon. In the press conference room at the BayArena, the duo, who are friends away from the pitch and in great spirits, answered the unusual questions from around 50 inquisitive young journalists and young football players - and provided plenty of laughs with a lot of humour.
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Anheuser-Busch InBev Group is new Bayer 04 global beer partner
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have a new global beer partner from the 2026/27 season. The Bundesliga club has agreed a partnership with the internationally renowned brewery group Anheuser-Busch InBev to 30 June 2031, with the Anheuser-Busch InBev Group taking over from Bitburger. The private brewery from the southern Eifel region has been the official beer partner of Bayer 04 since 1995.
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Harmonious end to an era: Bayer 04 and Bitburger conclude partnership
The final whistle of the current 2025/26 season marks the end of a unique partnership for Bayer 04 Leverkusen. After more than three decades of collaboration and highly eventful times, the Bundesliga football club and the private brewery Bitburger are going their separate ways.
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Feed manufacturer PerNaturam is new Bayer 04 Women’s team partner
Bayer 04 Leverkusen are further expanding their partner network: The feed manufacturer PerNaturam is an official sponsor of the Bayer 04 Womens team. The partnership opens up a wide range of opportunities for the company to position its brand in the Bundesliga environment.
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SAB-P GmbH become Bayer 04’s first inclusion partner
SAB-P GmbH is to become Bayer 04 Leverkusen's first official inclusion partner. The company, which has previously been involved in the club's Business Club, is underlining its social commitment to inclusion with an agreement that runs until 31 May 2027. Among other things, it will be the shirt sponsor of the Inclusion Team from the 2026/27 season onwards.
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2024/25 season review, part I: High expectations of invincible double winners
With the clash at Mainz 05 on the 34th and final matchday of the 2024/25 Bundesliga, another eventful season came to an end. The Werkself finished as runners-up in second place and can be proud of the joint third-best points tally in the club's history. Bayer04.de takes a look back - firstly at the period from the summer until the end of the year, in which the Werkself had to deal with high expectations and fluctuated between impressive performances, squandered leads and absolute top form.
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Happy 75th birthday, Wolfgang Holzhäuser
He helped shape Bayer 04 for almost two decades. First from 1998 to 2004 as the commercial managing director, then from 2013 as the spokesperson for the board and finally from 2017 as a member of the shareholders committee. Wolfgang Holzhäuser today celebrates his 75th birthday.
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30 years ago: Bernd Schuster's hat-trick for all time
Bernd Schuster scored the Goal of the Month three times in 1994. And in the vote for the Goal of the Year he took the first three places. Nobody else has achieved that before or after him. Today Bernd Schuster celebrates his 65th birthday. We take the occasion to not only look back at his wonder goals but also review his special story at Bayer 04.
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No tradition since 1904 – Bayer 04 release 120th anniversary kit
The German double winners’ special-edition jersey to mark the club’s 120th anniversary is reminiscent of the first kit worn by players back in the 1907/08 season. The jersey, which the Werkself will wear for the Bundesliga home game against Holstein Kiel on Saturday, 5 October and which has been met with enthusiasm by the players, has numerous special features relating to the club's history, including an NFC chip that leads to exclusive content when scanned with a smartphone.
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120 years of Bayer 04 Leverkusen: an eventful history
The 2023/24 season was a historic one in many respects for Bayer 04. The Werkself were crowned champions for the first time in their history, lifted the DFB Pokal for the second time after 1993, and reached a European final for the third time after the UEFA Cup triumph of 1988 and 2002 Champions League runners-up finish. The fact all these events came in the year the club celebrates its 120th birthday makes the milestone year even more special. So, time for a look back on the beginnings of the gymnastics club that soon became one of Europe’s biggest football clubs.
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Kids press conference: Omlin and Culbreath meet Bayer 04 football school group
In the second week of the Easter holidays, around 50 children taking part in activities at the Bayer 04 football school went to the BayArena on Wednesday afternoon, where they had an appointment with the two Werkself players Jonas Omlin and Montrell Culbreath for the Kids press conference. The duo took their time and answered every question the young footballers could think of - and of course the kids' requests for selfies and autographs were happily met afterwards.
Show moreDuo with double the fun: Andrich and Blaswich at the BarmeniaGothaer children's press conference
Captain Robert Andrich and keeper Janis Blaswich were guests at the children's press conference organised by BarmeniaGothaer in cooperation with the Bayer 04 Löwenclub on Wednesday afternoon. In the press conference room at the BayArena, the duo, who are friends away from the pitch and in great spirits, answered the unusual questions from around 50 inquisitive young journalists and young football players - and provided plenty of laughs with a lot of humour.
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Meet & greet: Children at Bayer 04 Football School meet Hofmann and Oermann
A real highlight at the Bayer 04 Football School and a special, albeit early, Easter gift: The 50 or so children who took part went to the VIP area at the BayArena on Wednesday afternoon, where they had an appointment with the Werkself players Jonas Hofmann and Tim Oermann. The duo took their time and answered every question the young footballers could think of. Among other things, Hofmann explained to the youngsters why he signed for Bayer 04 in 2023, while Oermann revealed the inspiration for his jersey number 15. And of course, the children’s requests for selfies and autographs were not left unfulfilled after the Q&A session.
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International Day of Persons with Disabilities - BayArena lights up purple
The United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is celebrated worldwide on 3 December. Together with Bayer AG, Bayer 04 is once again setting an example for diversity and inclusion by lighting up the BayArena in purple in the evening.
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Closer to the home end: Home bench at the BayArena towards North Stand
For the Bundesliga 2025/26 opener against TSG Hoffenheim at the BayArena on Saturday, Erik ten Hag, his coaches, staff and substitutes will be even closer to the home end. From now, the Bayer 04 team will be nearer to the North Stand after coming on.
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