
Bayer 04 received a visit from a high-ranking delegation from China on Sunday looking to discuss a partnership in developing football in China. The group of six politicians led by Liu Xinle, the vice-governor of Inner Mongolia responsible for football, also met Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and representatives of the DFB and DFL during their visit to Germany. Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade greeted the Asian delegation, signed a partnership agreement and presented a pennant.
Helmut Jungheim, head of the youth section at Bayer 04, informed the Chinese guests about the structure and key details of youth development at Bayer 04 and then joined them in watching a Werkself U17 Bundesliga fixture at the Haberland Stadium. The partnership between the Chinese and Bayer 04 involves the establishment of a Sino-German Academy in Baotou in Inner Mongolia in accordance with standards for education and training recommended by Bayer 04 and the training and development of Chinese coaches locally. Plans also include an exchange programme in the establishment and development of professional women’s football in Inner Mongolia


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.
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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.
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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.
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Newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg will begin the 2026/27 season as Bundesliga club number 59. The Saarland club start their first Bundesliga campaign at home to the Werkself on Saturday, 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST) at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, which is currently being rebuilt. For one Leverkusen player in the ‘Elv’ line-up, the clash will be a special reunion. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Ernest Poku is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to play in the Turkish Süper Lig. The club has loaned the Dutch winger to Beşiktaş for one year. If certain criteria are met, the Istanbul club – who finished fourth in the Turkish top flight last season – will be obliged to make the move permanent.
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