Latest news with #BayArena
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I signed for Xabi Alonso!' - Mark Flekken says he agreed Bayer Leverkusen move before new Real Madrid coach left but reveals 11-year long campaign to convince Erik ten Hag to sign him
Goalkeeper joins Leverkusen from Brentford Ten Hag chased Flekken since 2013 Healthy battle with Hradecky for starting spot Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? Flekken officially joined Bayer Leverkusen in the beginning of July from Brentford. Although Ten Hag has now taken over as head coach at Leverkusen, Flekken clarified that he had already agreed to the transfer before Alonso's departure. Interestingly, the Dutch goalkeeper revealed he had been on his compatriot's radar for over a decade, dating back to their time in Germany's lower leagues. THE BIGGER PICTURE Leverkusen are undergoing a notable shift both on and off the pitch. With Alonso departing for Real Madrid, new boss Ten Hag is now tasked with sustaining the club's upward momentum. In goal, the arrival of Dutch international Flekken signals the start of a new chapter, as he is expected to compete with, and potentially succeed, long-time captain Lukas Hradecky. Although Flekken had already agreed to join Leverkusen before Alonso's exit, his connection with Ten Hag adds extra narrative weight. The Dutch coach wrote to him after the deal was finalised: 'Now the time has finally come for us to work together after 11 years.' Flekken had long hoped to play under Ten Hag, with past opportunities at Utrecht and Ajax falling through, making their long-overdue link-up at the BayArena a personal milestone. WHAT FLEKKEN SAID Flekken told BILD: "My agent had been in contact with Erik several times before. He discussed opportunities to sign me, for example, when he was at Utrecht or Ajax. But it just never worked out." He added: "I first played against Erik when he was still coach of Bayern Munich II. I played for Greuther Furth II. So, we had known each other from a distance for a while. We had never spoken in person, but we had played against each other several times." Despite the strong ties, Flekken clarified that Ten Hag's arrival wasn't the reason for his move: "I had already reached a verbal agreement before Xabi Alonso made his decision to leave." On replacing Hradecky, he stressed mutual respect and healthy competition: "We get along well, we can laugh together, we can work together seriously and that is the be-all and end-all for me." WHAT NEXT FOR LEVERKUSEN? All eyes will be on how the Dutch pair reshape Leverkusen's defensive setup. Hradecky, though now second-choice, is expected to push hard for his spot, adding healthy competition. For Ten Hag, blending his philosophy into an already well-drilled title-winning side will be a delicate but fascinating challenge in 2025-26.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Malik Tillman's back in the Bundesliga! Bayer Leverkusen complete signing of USMNT star from PSV as Erik ten Hag seeks Florian Wirtz's replacement
Tillman joins Leverkusen on a five-year deal Returns to Germany after just one season Ten Hag seeking Wirtz's replacement WHAT HAPPENED? Tillman formally put pen to paper on his Leverkusen's contract on Saturday. In an official announcement, the German side confirmed the player's arrival, which read: "Malik Tillman joins from PSV on a deal until 2030! Welcome to the Werkself, Malik!" THE BIGGER PICTURE Tillman became Leverkusen's second attacking signing after they confirmed the arrival of Cameroonian forward Christian Kofane from Albacete. New boss Erik ten Hag is looking for options to replace talismanic attacking midfielder Wirtz, who joined English champions Liverpool in a record-breaking transfer earlier in the summer. Advertisement WHAT TILLMAN SAID After signing the Leverkusen contract, Tillman sent a message to the club fans as he said: "Just signed the contract. I'm gonna enjoy a couple more days of holidays and then I'm excited to see you in the BayArena." WHAT NEXT FOR LEVERKUSEN? WHAT NEXT FOR LEVERKUSEN? Ten Hag's side are scheduled to travel to Brazil next week for their pre-season and will play their first friendly match against a Flamengo Under-20 side on July 18.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen complete the signing of Tim Oermann from Bochum
Bayer Leverkusen have announced that they have completed the signing of central defender Tim Oermann, who joins from Bochum. Oermann joins from relegation Bochum for a fee of around €1.5-2m. The 21-year-old will sign a contract at the BayArena until 2029, however, he will spend the next year on loan at Strum Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga. The defender leaves boyhood club Bochum, where he was a regular in the squad for two seasons, making a total of 51 appearances over three seasons at the Ruhrstadion. Advertisement The Austrian Champions, who won the title on the final day, will play in the Champions League playoffs next season, meaning Oermann will experience European football next season. This is Leverkusen's second signing of the summer window, and it is clear in the direction they are going, after already completing the signing of Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin for €12m. This is a season of upheaval at the BayArena after the confirmed departures of head coach Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid and Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich, as well as the likely departures of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz to Liverpool. GGFN | Jack Meenan
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Xabi Alonso basks in hero's sendoff but Dortmund ruin Leverkusen party
It was the last two and a half years in a nutshell; deliciously inventive, daringly late and, quite frankly, a bit too good for Borussia Dortmund. As stoppage time ticked on Florian Wirtz received the ball on the left, seemingly without an angle for a cross; so he dug out a spinning ball with the outside of his foot, spearing it to the back post. The substitute Jonas Hofmann snuck around the back of the defence to bullet a diving header into the far corner as we went into the second minute of added time, another goal at the last for Bayer Leverkusen. Yet there was just a muted cheer and as the familiar chords of ATC's All Around The World greeted the strike from the sound system, they were met by considerable echo. This time, it was already over. Xabi Alonso's side had lost a Bundesliga game for only the third time this season but the moment had long since passed, for coach and for team. With the concession of their title to Bayern Munich last weekend came this week's confirmation from Alonso that 'these last two games are going to be my last two games as Bayer Leverkusen coach'. It was, in many ways, a relief, giving clarity and a chance to truly celebrate everything that Alonso's spell in charge has meant for club and coach. It began before kick-off in Sunday afternoon's game, with Alonso presented with a commemorative shirt and a street sign of Xabi Alonso Allee, the thoroughfare in front of the BayArena unofficially renamed after him on the day of the title win 13 months ago. As he received the plaudits from the stands it was notable to see the travelling Dortmund fans join in. Having helped to break Bayern's hegemony he is seen as someone who did a lot for German football, not just for Leverkusen. Even if it was 'not the result we wanted' in the words of Jeremie Frimpong, this was not an unworthy tribute to Alonso and everything he and his group has achieved since his October 2022 arrival. The first half underlined everything that his team have been about; invention, intensity and just all-round excellence. Frimpong's opener, as he stepped inside to smash high into the net with his left foot, was a signpost to how he has thrived under Alonso, going from dashing wing-back to a player who is also a poised, effective part of the attack. The goal was also scant reward for Leverkusen's total domination of a team who arrived having dropped just two points in the last six games (and those had been in a draw at Bayern), and were saved time and again by the outstanding Gregor Kobel in goal to improbably lead at the break. 'We had a lot of luck in the first half and a lot of Gregor Kobel,' smiled Julian Brandt, who scored the equaliser, admitting that his team had taken the points by adding 'killer instinct' to those first two qualities. The win was wrapped up with a minimum of fuss in the second half, with Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy scoring to make it 4-1 before Hofmann's minor footnote. Dortmund, then, breathe again, going into the final day with a clear chance of returning to the Champions League, a minor miracle after a largely torrid season. Yet perhaps their biggest takeaway from their trip to BayArena was that to build a winning environment, a true culture, as Alonso has, is another level entirely. Something to aim for and, for Leverkusen, memories to be treasured. Stuttgart 4-0 Augsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 St Pauli, Bayer Leverkusen 2-4 Borussia Dortmund, Bayern 2-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach, Holstein Kiel 1-2 Freiburg, Union Berlin 0-3 Heidenheim, Bochum 1-4 Mainz, Werder Bremen 0-0 RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg 2-2 Hoffenheim. It's party time for Bayern and they celebrated properly in their final home game with Borussia Mönchengladbach, a 2-0 win which featured the returning Manuel Neuer repelling a number of attacks in exhilarating fashion. Then, after Harry Kane had returned from a ban to open the scoring and Michael Olise had got himself a goal, it was on to a guard of honour as Thomas Müller left the Allianz Arena field for the final time, followed by beer showers all round and a Sunday morning flight to Ibiza for most of the squad to celebrate at Pacha (despite Max Eberl having put a block on the trip to the island after last weekend's late equaliser for Leipzig). There's still work to be done in the Champions League race, with Dortmund now knowing that (remarkably) they will make the top four if they beat relegated Holstein Kiel at Signal Iduna Park by at least a two-goal margin – because the current third and fourth-placed teams, Eintracht Frankfurt and Freiburg, face each other on the final day. Freiburg came from behind at Kiel on Saturday, with the in-form Lucas Höler's header sending the hosts down, while Eintracht were held at home by St Pauli on Sunday despite taking the lead via Rasmus Kristensen after 22 seconds, thus blowing a second straight chance to mathematically secure a Champions League spot. They need a point in Freiburg to be sure. 'Of course, we imagined it differently,' said Kevin Trapp, 'but I can't remember a last matchday at Eintracht where everything was already decided. That's how it is. But I'm convinced we can do it.' Meanwhile Leipzig's goalless draw at Werder Bremen means they can no longer reach the top four, which put the cap on a deeply disappointing season and which will have consequences. 'You have to be honest and say we didn't deserve it,' admitted sporting director, Marcel Schäfer, who promised a 'bigger than expected' overhaul of his expensively assembled squad. In addition to the missed revenue the loss of status may affect their head coach search, as Leipzig are a less attractive proposition without the Champions League – though there is now the potential aim of a home European final in 2026 as the Red Bull Arena will host next year's Conference League final, though qualifying for that will also require help from Leverkusen against Mainz on the final day. Relegation was confirmed for Holstein Kiel and Bochum, though Dieter Hecking will stay in charge of the latter. St Pauli celebrated wildly in Frankfurt, having got the point that means only a mathematical miracle would send them into the relegation playoff spot currently occupied by Heidenheim, who won 3-0 at Union Berlin. Frank Schmidt's side could escape completely if they win heavily against Werder on the final day and Hoffenheim take a thrashing from Bayern. St Pauli, who this week edged to the verge of their €30m fundraising target from their fan stadium purchase cooperative, also have a top-flight derby with Hamburg to look forward to after HSV secured a Bundesliga return this weekend, after seven years away. Despite a nervy start in which they conceded the opening goal HSV ran out 6-1 winners over Ulm, and a win at Greuther Fürth next weekend would guarantee the title ahead of second-placed Köln, who need a point to guarantee promotion. It is a personal triumph for 34-year-old coach Merlin Polzin, who grew up a season ticket holder. 'I held my brother in my arms,' Polzin said of the post-match celebrations. 'He had tears in his eyes. This means everything to me.'
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: Top four-chasing Dortmund look for huge win
The hosts staged a late comeback in their 2-2 draw with Freiburg on May 3, scoring twice after the 82nd minute despite generating just 0.29 xG throughout the match. Although Leverkusen have managed three clean sheets in their last five outings, their attacking efficiency has waned, with only six goals scored in that time, compared to eight in their previous three fixtures. The build-up to this clash has been overshadowed by confirmation that manager Xabi Alonso will leave the club at the end of the campaign, with strong speculation linking him to a summer move to Real Madrid. Leverkusen edged Dortmund 3-2 in their January league meeting, but that remains their only victory against the visitors in their last five meetings, with two defeats suffered in that stretch. While Die Werkself are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, they've also been held to three draws in that span. At BayArena, Alonso's men have been inconsistent, winning two and drawing one of their last three, but had previously gone three home games without a win, suffering two losses and a draw. Team News Leverkusen will be without defenders Jeanuel Belocian, Mario Hermoso, and Nordi Mukiele due to injury. Still, regulars Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie are fit and expected to anchor the backline. Granit Xhaka remains a central figure in midfield and should start alongside Aleix Garcia, while Florian Wirtz is set to lead the attack alongside Emiliano Buendia and Patrik Schick. Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, arrive in Leverkusen fresh from a commanding 4-0 win over Wolfsburg, in which they created four big chances and racked up nearly 2.5 xG. Manager Niko Kovac will be pleased with his team's recent attacking form, having scored 12 goals in their last four matches, though their defence remains a concern, with five goals conceded during that same stretch. Dortmund currently sit in the Europa League spot, one point behind fourth-placed Freiburg and still within reach of the final Champions League berth with two games remaining. BVB head into Sunday's clash riding a wave of momentum, having won four consecutive matches in all competitions and five of their last six in the Bundesliga. However, their away form has been erratic, with two wins, one draw, and two losses in their past five road trips, suggesting vulnerability when not at Signal Iduna Park. Team News Dortmund have relatively few injury concerns, with only centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck ruled out until October and attacker Maximilian Beier sidelined until the end of May. Kovac may stick with his favoured back three of Niklas Süle, Waldemar Anton, and Ramy Bensebaini. Up front, Serhou Guirassy, who has scored 32 goals across all competitions, will spearhead the attack, with creative support expected from Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi.
