Bayer Leverkusen nets 8.5m from Puertas transfer

Bayer Leverkusen receives 8.5 million euros from the transfer of Gustavo Puertas to Nottingham Forest. OneFootball reported the news on August 31, 2026, confirming a shrewd piece of contract work by the Bundesliga club.

The 23-year-old midfielder is moving from Racing Santander to England, with Leverkusen benefiting from a 50 percent sell-on clause. The total transfer fee between the two clubs is 17 million euros, half of which goes to Leverkusen. Puertas's contract at Nottingham Forest also includes an exit clause set at 18 million euros. For the current season, however, the player will initially be loaned to Olympiacos.

Bayer Leverkusen originally signed Gustavo Puertas for around one million euros in January 2023. After loan spells at 1. FC Nürnberg and Hull City during the 2024/25 season, the club sold the player to Racing Santander for one million euros in the summer of 2025. The key element was the negotiated clause that secured Leverkusen 50 percent of any future resale profit. When Racing Santander sold Puertas on for a 17 million euro profit to Nottingham Forest, this clause was triggered. The magazine Kicker noted: "Leverkusen is likely to benefit considerably – thanks to the sell-on participation that was negotiated when Puertas left the club last summer."

The unexpected windfall of 8.5 million euros represents a significant financial success. From an investment of roughly one million euros in 2023, the club has generated a multiple through savvy negotiation. These funds can be channeled into ongoing football operations or reserved for future transfers. Currently, Bayer Leverkusen sits in 13th place in the Bundesliga table with zero points, three points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The team has scored two goals but conceded three in one match.

The Werkself began the new campaign with a defeat and will be eager to put that setback behind them quickly. The next opportunity comes on September 5, 2026, with a home match against ninth-placed Union Berlin. Fans can check the full season schedule on our fixtures page. A look at the detailed team stats is also worthwhile to track progress.

For Gustavo Puertas, a new chapter in the English Premier League begins, even though he will spend the coming season on loan in Greece with Olympiacos. For Bayer Leverkusen, the chapter closes with a very positive financial postscript. The club's next task is the Bundesliga home game against Union Berlin on September 5.