Ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s visit in next week’s VisitMalta Weekender, we look at the history of the German club and their notable past and present players…
The Blues host Leverkusen on Friday 8 August. Kick-off is at 7pm and tickets for the game, as well as the meeting with AC Milan two days later, are on general sale.
Here we find out more about Leverkusen and what to expect when they come to Stamford Bridge…
Factfile
Full name: Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH
Country: Germany
City: Leverkusen, North Rhine‑Westphalia
Formation: 1904, as part of Bayer sports club
Colours: Red and black
Stadium: BayArena
Nickname: Die Werkself (The Company XI)
Major honours: Bundesliga (2024), German Cup (1993, 2024) UEFA Cup (1988)
Head coach: Erik ten Hag
2024/25 league finish: 2nd
Rivals: Cologne, Borussia Monchengladbach, Fortuna Dusseldorf
2024/25
Following a remarkable 2023/24 campaign in which Leverkusen went the entire Bundesliga season unbeaten, reached the final of the Europa League, and also won the German Cup, they couldn’t quite hit the same heights last time around.
Xabi Alonso’s side finished second, 13 points behind champions Bayern Munich, and were also knocked out by Bayern in the Champions League Round of 16. Alonso left at the end of the season to take over Real Madrid, with former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag replacing the Spaniard.
Current squad
Leverkusen are captained by Finland goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, although they have reinforced that department by signing former Brentford number one Mark Flekken.
Following the departure of Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich, Leverkusen acquired Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah. Other notable names include Spain wing-back Alex Grimaldo, strikers Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface, and Germany winger Jonas Hofmann.
Notable former players
Michael Ballack spent three years at Bayer Leverkusen between 1999 and 2002, while the Blues signed both Andre Schurrle (2013) and Kai Havertz (2020) from the German club.
Other famous names to have donned the red-and-black shirt include: Ulf Kirsten, the dynamic centre-forward who is the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 240; Dimitar Berbatov, a great success in England; Bernd Schneider, the long-time Germany midfielder; and more recently Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, who have both joined Liverpool this summer.
