From London to Leverkusen: Callum Hudson-Odoi leaves his birthplace for the first time in his career as a football player to join Bayer 04. He joined Chelsea at the age of six and his Ghanaian father Bismark Odoi was also a professional footballer in Ghana. Callum progressed through all the youth teams at the Blues over the following eleven years. He made his debut for the U18s at the age of 15, the U23s at 16, and he finally stepped up to the senior squad in 2017.
The fast and technically gifted Hudson-Odoi made his Premier League debut on 31 January 2018 under the then Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte in a 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth. He made one more league appearance in his first season.
The right footer went on to play more frequently in England's top flight in the following years. He played nine games in the UEFA Europa League in 2018/19 and joined his teammates in celebrating winning the title after a 4-1 victory against Arsenal in the final. Hudson-Odoi played a significant role in Chelsea's European triumph with four goals and two assists.
The Londoner celebrated the biggest success of his short career to date in the following year by winning the UEFA Champions League. The winger played an important role in the 2020/21 Champions League campaign with two goals in seven games and, after beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final, he lifted the trophy together with Werkself home-grown player, scorer of the winner in the final, and teammate Kai Havertz. Callum also won the FIFA Club World Cup with the Blues.
Hudson-Odoi has learned one thing in particular in his time at Chelsea as he explained in an interview with fifa.com: "The mentality was for us to score goals or always look to finish. Team spirit was and is really important for that. You never play alone and success is only possible as a team."
At the age of 21, Hudson-Odoi can already look back at 72 appearances in the Premier League, 17 in the Champions League as well as nine in the Europa League.
The Werkself host 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 at the BayArena on matchday 10 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on 8 November at 15:30 CET and is a Members matchday. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
The Werkself host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena on matchday 12 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 29 November, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
One week after the derby was abandoned, the Werkself continue their winning run in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 2-0 at TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon, mainly thanks to a strong second half, to record their fifth consecutive victory. Loreen Bender (75’) and Vanessa Fudalla (82’) scored for Bayer 04 at the Dietmar Hopp Stadium and Leverkusen now have twelve points from five games.
Show more
Argentina’s success at the U20 World Cup in Chile continues. The junior Albiceleste, with Bayer 04 player Alejo Sarco in the starting XI, beat Mexico 2-0 in the quarter-finals on Sunday night. Colombia, who knocked out Spain, now await in the semi-finals on Thursday night.
Show more
The abandoned Bundesliga derby between the Bayer 04 Women and FC Köln has been rescheduled for Thursday, 16 October with the kick-off at 18:00 CEST. This was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Saturday following a decision by the DFB Sports Tribunal. The match at the Franz Kremer Stadium on Sunday 5 October was abandoned with the score at 1-0 to the hosts due to floodlight failure.
Show more
