"With Kai Havertz we have once again brought a promising youth player through to our first team squad," said Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade. "That fits in completely with our strategy of trying to pave a direct way for our talented youngsters from the Kurtekotten Academy into the BayArena. Kai Havertz and Benjamin Henrichs represent our successful concept of developing our home-grown players into outstanding Bundesliga players."
The versatile Havertz, awarded a silver Fritz Walter Medal by the DFB, was one of the outstanding newcomers in the Bundesliga last season. "Kai has special qualities and beyond that is also blessed with a maturity that raises him above other players of his age," said Bayer 04 sporting director Rudi Völler. "He has technical ability, is capable of scoring and is good in the air. After a great start in professional football we want to continue to support Kai's development. He has huge potential that will unfold in the next few years."
For the youth international, signing the contract is a long-cherished desire: "I've worked for this moment over the past few years. I feel great's satisfaction and pride. I'm happy to finally really being part of it all after last season when I still had to finish school. I've got my A-levels now and a professional contract at Bayer 04 - it feels great."
Two keepers, lots of questions: Werkself captain Lukas Hradecky and U19 goalkeeper Jesper Schlich visited the BarmeniaGothaer children’s press conference in partnership with the Bayer 04 Lions Club on Wednesday afternoon. The duo faced interesting and at times unusual questions from around 50 inquisitive young journalists in the press conference room at the BayArena.
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A large number of sporting directors and officials from big clubs across Europe came to the BayArena on Tuesday for the second seminar in the UEFA Sporting Director Programme (SDP) in cooperation with the ECA.
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Full-back Janou Levels will leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the end of the season. The 24-year-old has activated her release clause and she will join Bundesliga rivals VfL Wolfsburg. She has signed a three-year contract.
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After returning from Hamburg and a day off on Easter Monday, the Werkself players were back on the training ground at the BayArena on Tuesday morning. Following the session, Amine Adli was very positive in a media interview about the remaining four matches including the forthcoming home game against FC Augsburg (Saturday, 26 April, 15:30 CEST): "We will give our all to end the season as well as we can!"
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