The transfer window closes in just over six days. For Bayer 04’s management, this means there’s still a lot of hard work ahead. There could still be up to ten moves in total, both in and out.
Following the major squad shakeup in the summer of 2025, Bayer 04’s management had resolved to strengthen the squad only selectively during the current transfer window. They did not want a repeat of the absolute transfer marathon seen a year ago, when there were a total of 38 transfer moves involving Leverkusen.
Nevertheless, the decision-makers at the club are facing a far from relaxed final stretch leading up to Deadline Day next Tuesday (8 p.m.). After all, a total of up to ten deals—both incoming and outgoing—are realistic.
Three deals are on the verge of being finalized
Three transfers are on the verge of being officially finalized: Right winger Moussa Diaby (27) of Al-Ittihad FC is set to return to Leverkusen for a transfer fee of approximately 29 million euros. Argentine World Cup champion and midfielder Exequiel Palacios (27) will join Ipswich Town. The terms of the transfer (a fixed fee of 22.5 million euros, plus 7.5 million euros in bonuses) are now just a matter of fine-tuning the details. Winger Ernest Poku (22) is set to move to Besiktas in Istanbul, pending a physical. Leverkusen will receive a €3 million loan fee, and Besiktas has agreed to a mandatory buyout clause of €20 million. The Bundesliga club is also set to receive a share of any future transfer fee.
In addition to Diaby, two more signings are planned. Definitely a right back. Guela Doué (23, Racing Strasbourg) is the preferred candidate here, though he is likely to be expensive—at least 30 million euros. The outcome of negotiations with the player, who is currently under contract with Chelsea FC, remains uncertain. Bayer 04 is, of course, preparing at least one alternative candidate behind the scenes.
Vazquez Has No Plans to Leave
The same applies to defensive midfield in the event that, in addition to Palacios, veteran and former captain Robert Andrich (31)—who has been told he is free to leave—also departs the club. Three new signings are therefore still realistic, while there are as many as seven departures.
Since a new No. 1 is expected to arrive for the right-back position and veteran Lucas Vazquez (35)—who had a strong game in the DFB Cup in Wiesbaden (4-0)—is not considering a departure, Bayer would still have to let go of two of the three remaining options for the right side of defense.
Two more potential right-backs may leave
Top prospect Axel Tape (19) is set to be loaned out. In addition, either Tim Oermann (22)—who can also play as a center back and is therefore a versatile option—or the Brazilian Arthur (23) could still leave the club. Both a loan and a sale are possible. The same applies to Frenchman Jeanuel Belocian (21), who can play both left-back and center-back, and for whom there are numerous interested parties, including some from the Bundesliga.
Bayer 04 also wants to trim its roster on the offensive end. Despite a strong preseason, the club would not stand in the way of attacking midfielder Jonas Hofmann (34) and would let him leave on a free transfer. Martin Terrier (29), however, is no longer on the list of players up for sale. While Stade Rennes and OSC Lille have shown interest in loaning or purchasing the versatile attacker—who was still hampered in preseason after a long injury layoff that cut short the second half of last season—neither club is anywhere near willing to pay a transfer fee in the tens of millions.
Aston Villa inquired about Kofane with Bayer but was turned down
And one more center forward is allowed to leave Leverkusen. However, the club does not want to part with top talent Christian Kofane (20), for whom Aston Villa had approached Bayer 04. The situation is different for Victor Boniface (25), should the right opportunity arise. The Nigerian, who—after massive knee problems, including surgery and a lost year at Werder Bremen—has shown significant improvement not only in terms of fitness, is a candidate for a transfer.
However, Bayer no longer wants to sell him at any cost or for a token fee. Rather, the club sees the Nigerian national team player as at least a good backup option, so they wouldn’t have a problem if he stayed. But as the third candidate for the only central striker position in Leverkusen, Boniface could be sold for a decent transfer fee in the millions. Or, more likely, he could go out on loan, which would allow him to boost his market value again.