Bayer LeverkusenTeam·Bayer Leverkusen, the celebrated champions of the 2023/24 season, faced a challenging 2025/26 campaign marked by significant transitions and a notable drop in league performance. After securing a historic BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double, the club navigated a period of rebuilding that saw them finish sixth in the BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga standings with 59 points from 34 matches, a position that grants them qualification for the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League group stage.
The shift in fortunes was largely attributed to a substantial restructuring of the squad during the summer of 2025. Several pivotal figures from their championship-winning side departed, reshaping the team's core. Star attacking midfielder Florian WirtzPlayer·Florian Wirtz made a high-profile move to LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool, commanding a BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga record transfer fee. Defensive stalwarts Jonathan TahPlayer·Jonathan Tah and Jeremie FrimpongPlayer·Jeremie Frimpong also headed to new clubs, joining Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich and LiverpoolTeam·Liverpool, respectively. Midfield anchor Granit XhakaPlayer·Granit Xhaka transferred to SunderlandTeam·Sunderland, while long-serving captain and goalkeeper Lukas HradeckyPlayer·Lukas Hradecky also moved on.
Alongside the player departures, the club experienced a change in leadership at the helm. Xabi AlonsoCoach·Xabi Alonso, the architect of their historic success, departed for Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid. Erik ten HagCoach·Erik ten Hag was appointed as the new head coach on July 1, 2025, but his tenure was remarkably brief. Ten Hag was dismissed on September 1, 2025, after overseeing only two BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga matches and three competitive fixtures in total, marking one of the shortest coaching stints in German top-flight history. Kasper HjulmandCoach·Kasper Hjulmand subsequently took over as head coach on September 8, 2025, tasked with stabilizing the team amidst the upheaval.
In other competitions, Leverkusen reached the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, demonstrating flashes of their previous prowess on the European stage. Their DFB-Pokal journey concluded in the Semi-finals, where they were defeated by domestic rivals Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich. The team's form in the final five BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga matches of the 2025/26 season reflected their inconsistent campaign, recording a sequence of Loss, Win, Win, Loss, Draw (LWWLD), culminating in a 1-1 draw against Hamburger SVTeam·Hamburger SV in their final league fixture.
Reflecting on the season, captain Robert AndrichPlayer·Robert Andrich acknowledged the disappointment of missing out on Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League qualification but urged a balanced perspective. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," he stated, adding that it would be "wrong to write off the whole season" despite the frustrations. Goalkeeper Mark FlekkenPlayer·Mark Flekken also commented on the initial difficulties, noting, "We had a difficult start. The squad with so many new players had to find its rhythm first." Managing Director Sport Simon Rolfes expressed a forward-looking perspective, aiming to form a new "foundation for a successful and title-challenging team" amidst the changes, signaling the club's intent to rebuild and compete at the highest level once more.
Jonathan Tah and Florian Wirtz celebrate for Bayer Leverkusen. Sven Simon/IMAGO
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