Bayer Leverkusen was the biggest spender in the Bundesliga during the summer transfer window. The club invested approximately €159 million in 19 new arrivals.

The Werksclub's outlay significantly exceeded that of their direct rivals. Borussia Dortmund spent €108.5 million, Bayern Munich €106.95 million. RB Leipzig followed with an expenditure of €67.5 million. Leverkusen's net spend, after factoring in income from departures, was around €39.15 million. The club generated roughly €119.85 million from 17 player sales.

Afonso Moreira joined from Olympique Lyon for an estimated fee of €29.5 million. Miguel Gutiérrez arrived for around €26 million. Facundo Medina was signed for approximately €23 million. Another expensive acquisition was Guéla Doué from RC Strasbourg for about €30 million. The young Frenchman signed a contract running until 2031.

A familiar name returned: Moussa Diaby came back to Bayer Leverkusen from Al-Ittihad for around €30 million. During his first spell at the BayArena, the winger scored 49 goals and provided 48 assists in 173 appearances. The club commented on the ambitious transfer activity, stating: "They have made their intentions clear."

Under new head coach Carles Martínez, Leverkusen has had a mixed start to the 2026/27 season. After two matchdays, the club sits seventh in the Bundesliga standings with three points. Their record shows one win and one loss. The goal difference is positive, with six scored and three conceded. Current injury absentees include new signing Guéla Doué, Kennet Eichhorn, Montrell Culbreath, and Nathan Tella. The latest injury updates are available on our overview page.

The spending becomes even more interesting when you take the departures into account. Leverkusen trails surprise leaders FC Augsburg by three points in the early title race. The next fixture is a direct clash away at the league leaders on September 12, 2026.

The massive investment shows the desire to fundamentally renew the squad following the appointment of coach Martínez. With 19 new faces, the team has changed significantly. Integrating this many players is a primary task for the coming weeks. The current squad list illustrates the profound changes compared to last season.

The focus now shifts to on-pitch performance. The upcoming away match against table-toppers FC Augsburg on September 12 will be an early test for the newly assembled team. Guéla Doué, one of the most expensive signings, is under contract until the summer of 2031.