Transfers

Arrivals

Granit Xhaka returns to the Bundesliga! After seven seasons as an Arsenal player, managing director for sport Simon Rolfes has brought the captain of the Swiss national team back to Germany. The 30 year-old, who played for Borussia Mönchengladbach between 2012 and 2016, brings experience, mentality, and physicality. Xhaka will not only provide a lot of stability playing as a six, but will also help boost the Werkself’s attack. Last season he scored seven goals in the Premier league, assisting a further seven.
This summer, Jonas Hofmann moved across the Rhine, leaving Gladbach after more than seven years to join their local rivals. The German international is planned to be a key part of the attack owing to his technique and dribbling ability. He scored twelve goals in each of the last two seasons.
Victor Boniface arrives at Leverkusen from Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, where he scored 21 and assisted 11 goals in all competitions. The 6’3” striker was the top scorer in last year’s Europa League with six goals. The 22 year-old Nigerian is hard to play against as a result of his stature. He’s practically a replacement for centre-forward Patrik Schick, who is out with an adductor muscle injury. The new striker can also be deployed as a winger or a second striker.
Alejandro Grimaldo should also be set to start at left-back. The Spaniard, who is a product of FC Barcelona’s famous academy programme, arrived from Portuguese champions SL Benfica, where he ranked among some of the best players in the league. He is seen as being very solid defensively and is extremely threatening further up the pitch with his crosses from the wing.
Leverkusen announced their latest transfer on Tuesday, with goalkeeper Matej Kovar being signed from Manchester United on a contract until 2027.

Leverkusen have improved in all areas of the pitch. The new arrivals are expected to settle quickly in the Bundesliga and form a new core for the Werkself.

Departures

In Moussa Diaby, Leverkusen have lost an absolute cornerstone of the club, as well as the player with the most goal contributions last year (14 goals and 11 assists). The fleet-footed Frenchman was one of the first names in the Leverkusen attack for four years. The team has lost a huge amount of pace and goal threat with his departure.
Mitchel Bakker (Atalanta), Kerem Demirbay (Galatasaray), Karim Bellarabi (free agent), Daley Sinkgraven (UD Las Palmas), and Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea FC - end of loan) are also no longer options for the Werkself.