Bayer Leverkusen and NK Celje clash this Wednesday at the BayArena of the UEFA Europa League. Bayer Leverkusen, who have already won this tournament, mark their 21st participation in the competition, whilst NK Celje go into their 2nd.
In their last game, Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with FC Augsburg (1. Bundesliga 2026/27). Last time out, NK Celje slipped to a 2-1 defeat against NK Bravo (Slovenian League 2026/27).
Montrell Culbreath - Foot Injury
Bayer Leverkusen ( vs FC Augsburg 2026-09-12): Mark Flekken, Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba, Facundo Medina, Miguel Gutiérrez, Aleix García, Equi Fernández, Moussa Diaby, Ibrahim Maza, Afonso Moreira, Christian Kofane
NK Celje ( vs NK Bravo 2026-09-12): Zan Luk Leban, Pijus Sirvys, Leonardo Koutris, Artemijus Tutyskinas, Papa Mustapha, Mark Zabukovnik, Darko Hrka, Mario Kvesić, Benjamin Verbic, Matic Ivansek, Blaz Kramer

#bayer #bayarena

Former Aston Villa and France winger Moussa Diaby has rejoined Bayer Leverkusen from Saudi side Al-Ittihad on a deal until 2031, the German club announced on Tuesday.
German tabloid Bild said Leverkusen paid 27 million euros ($31 million) to Al-Ittihad to bring Diaby, 27, back to the BayArena.
"When the request came and the move was possible, I didn't doubt it for a second," Diaby said in a statement, adding "the club has gotten bigger in the meantime -- aiming for **** les with Leverkusen is a very big goal of mine."
A fast winger, Diaby scored 31 goals and laid on 37 **** ists in 125 Bundesliga matches for Leverkusen after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.
He made his France debut while at Leverkusen and went on to gain 11 caps for the two-time world champions, last playing before the 2024 Euros.

#ittihad #million #former

Three years after leaving Bayer Leverkusen, Moussa Diaby is set to return to the BayArena.
According to Kicker and Bild, a breakthrough has been reached in negotiations between Leverkusen and Diaby's current club, Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad.
Kicker reports that the transfer fee will be just under €30 million, while Bild puts the figure at €28 million.
If everything goes according to plan, the 27-year-old's return to Leverkusen will be completed within the coming days.
Die Werkself received €55 million when they sold Diaby to Aston Villa in 2023. He then moved to Al-Ittihad for €60 million the following year.

#ittihad

Maintaining the unprecedented highs of success set by Xabi Alonso was always going to be tricky, but ***** ody at Bayer Leverkusen could have foreseen how it unfolded. With Erik Ten Hag sacked after just two league games in charge, it set the tone for what would be a turbulent and uncomfortable 2025-26 season.
The Rhineland club acted quickly and choose to appoint Kasper Hjulmand who filled the void. Despite being unable to impart his tactics on the squad in pre-season, the Dane made a bright start to his rein with seven wins from his first nine games. Thereafter, things started to unravel.
Costly defeats and losing their grip on a prized Champions League berth in the final two matchday's effectively sealed Hjulmand's fate. With a desire for stability, Leverkusen's chiefs decided that a change at the helm would be needed, thus parting ways with the 54-year-old after a sixth-place finish.
With several components of their squad at the 2026 World Cup, Leverkusen partially regrouped for pre-season on 14 July. Players were met by a new face in coach Carles Martinez. The Spaniard, arriving from Girona, said he was keen to bring his intense and passionate style of football to the BayArena.
With routine wins over Sportfreunde Baumberg (7-0) and Kickers Offenbach (3-1), Leverkusen faced a sterner task in KRC Genk. The Belgian Pro League side were brushed aside 4-0, with further impressive displays from summer signing Afonso Moreira alongside Nathan Tella and Christian Kofane.

#leverkusen #season #xabi #alonso

Following an impressive first season at Bayer Leverkusen, Christian Kofane has been linked with a move away from the BayArena, with **** nal reportedly among his suitors.
The 20-year-old forward, however, insists he hasn't heard anything about the Gunners' alleged interest.
"No, that didn't reach me. My agent apparently spoke to one or two people. I myself didn't have any contact with anyone," he told Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
Kofane's agent, Eric Depolo, described him as a "€100m player" in an interview earlier this year, but that claim has apparently gone unnoticed by the striker, too.
"Wow. No, I didn't know that. You clearly don't know me: I don't concern myself with social media and things like that," he said.

#year #apparently #bayer

After six and half years at Bayer Leverkusen, Exequiel Palacios could be on the move this summer.
Fabrizio Romano reports that the Argentine midfielder is "ready for a new chapter" after several seasons at the BayArena.
RB Leipzig and newly-promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town are reportedly interested in Palacios, but there is currently no agreement in place and no deal is close.
The 27-year-old central midfielder has made 185 appearances for Leverkusen, scoring 15 goals and providing 17 ******* ists.
At international level, Palacios has represented Argentina 41 times. He was included in their World Cup squad, playing the full 90 minutes in the final group-stage match against Jordan while remaining an unused substitute in the other games.

#leverkusen #bayarena

In a recent report, journalist Fraser Fletcher claimed that Chelsea have identified Werder Bremen defender Karim Coulibaly as a target. It has been stated that the Blues are eyeing a move to land the German talent later this year.
Coulibaly played a useful role in Werder Bremen’s squad in the previous campaign when he put in a string of solid performances for them in the Bundesliga. The 19-year-old scored one goal in 27 matches for the German club last season across multiple competitions.
The talented teenager is currently one of the best young centre-backs in the Bundesliga. Therefore, Chelsea would do well to get him on board in this transfer period.
His current contract at Werder Bremen will run out in the summer of 2029, which could make it tough for the Blues to land him on a cut-price deal later this year.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – JANUARY 24: Karim Coulibaly of Werder Bremen runs wiht the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and SV Werder Bremen at BayArena on January 24, 2026 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES - JUNE 18: Granit Xhaka of Switzerland during the World Cup match between Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Los Angeles Stadium on June 18, 2026 in Los Angeles United States (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
This summer is already shaping up to be a transformational one for Chelsea. It’s needed. The Blues finished a lowly 10th in the Premier League table last season. The Stamford Bridge club went through three different managers as it struggled for any sort of positive traction over the course of the 2026/27 campaign.
Xabi Alonso will arrive as Chelsea’s new manager this summer and the club is making moves in the transfer market. Marco Palestra is expected to join from Atalanta to give Alonso another wide option, but perhaps the most surprising development so far is the Blues’ reported interest in Granit Xhaka.
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Granit Xhaka and Xabi Alonso, Head Coach of Bayer Leverkusen, celebrate after the team's victory during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Augsburg at BayArena on May 18, 2024 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Xhaka was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League last season as Sunderland defied all expectations to finish seventh, three places above Chelsea. The 33-year-old is at the peak of his powers and would improve Alonso’s options in the centre of the pitch ahead of next season.