Bayer Leverkusen 202526 Season Preview: Tactical Excellence Under Pressure with key exits
After a record-setting 202425 campaign, Bayer Leverkusen begins the new Bundesliga season. We will need to see the team with Erik Ten?Hag who has replaced Xabi Alonso.
Squad Age Profile
Main Players Average Age: 27.3 years
Substitute Bench Average Age: 23.5 years
Core Strength & Structural Solidity
Jonathan Tah (2970 mins) is the defensive leader, anchoring the backline with positional intelligence and aerial dominance, Granit Xhaka (2932 mins) is the midfields heartbeat, offering leadership, distribution, and composure. His departure is a major loss in terms of structure and rhythm, Piero Hincapié and Álex Grimaldo (2600+ mins each) provide overlapping threat and ball progression from left center-back and left wing-back roles, respectively, Edmond Tapsoba (2512 mins) offers defensive security, particularly in 1v1 duels and transitional recovery, Luká Hrádecký remains the No. 1 in goal (2610 mins), bringing calm and reliability, though Mark Flekken (3276 mins at previous club) is primed to challenge him. Robert Andrich and Aleix García (1607 and 1451 mins) provide midfield steel and control, especially useful after Xhakas exit.
Departures & Tactical Adjustments
Bayer Leverkusen's 2025 summer window has been defined by high-profile departures. The most significant exits include Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, both snapped up by Liverpool. Other key outgoings include Odilon Kossounou to Atalanta (initial loan with 20M buy option), Granit Xhaka to Sunderland for 18M and Jonathan Tah the defensive leader went to Bayern. These moves represent both a loss of experience and an opportunity for renewal in Leverkusens evolving squad.
New Signings & Positional Depth
Jarell Quansah (Liverpool) (19) will have to replace Jonathan Tah a defensive leader and Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven) (22) add athleticism and technical control. Tillman will compete for attacking midfield roles; Victor Boniface (Union SG) offers a new profile at striker, Ibrahim Maza (Hertha BSC), Amine Adli (Toulouse), and Arthur (assuming Arthur Cabral? If so, he came from FC Porto)provide wide midfield and wingback options, Mark Flekken (Brentford), after a standout season in the Premier League, gives Alonso genuine competition in goal.
Bench Usage & Tactical Flexibility
Nathan Tella, Exequiel Palacios, and Nordi Mukiele (1300+ mins each) remain first-choice substitutes, providing energy and coverage in high-tempo matches, Tim Diermann, Abdoulaye Faye, and Farid Alfa-Ruprecht (ages 1921) are high-upside players integrated gradually into matchday squads, Christian Kouamé (2172 mins), one of the more experienced backups, is likely to feature in both Bundesliga and domestic cup rotations.
The absence of Wirtz, Frimpong, Tah and Xhaka will certainly weigh.
