Bayer Leverkusen has loaned young French defender Axel Tape to Spanish second-division side UD Levante for the 2026/27 season. The 19-year-old defensive all-rounder will gain match experience in Spain as the Bundesliga club reshapes its squad in the right-back area. Leverkusen finished the previous season fifth in the Bundesliga with 52 points from 29 games and are preparing for a home match against Union Berlin on September 5th.
Axel Tape joined Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2025. The French U-19 international was considered a top talent but found no playing time under then-coach Kasper Hjulmand in the first half of the year. His only Bundesliga appearance came on matchday two of last season, when he started under Erik ten Hag in a 3:3 draw against Werder Bremen. Since then, he has lacked a clear pathway to minutes. The club sees the loan to Spain as an ideal development opportunity for the young player. At Levante, Tape is planned to be used as a defensive midfielder.
Tape's departure is part of a deliberate squad reduction and a restructuring of the right defensive flank. In addition to Tape, Brazilian Arthur is also expected to leave the club. A basic agreement is in place with Hamburger SV for a transfer. Should that move fall through, HSV is pursuing Zakaria El Ouahdi from Belgian club Genk as an alternative. These personnel decisions are happening because Bayer Leverkusen is working intensively on signing Guela Doué. The 23-year-old Ivorian international from Racing Strasbourg would be an expensive reinforcement for the right-back position. A transfer fee in the region of 35 million euros is considered realistic. Reports from France suggest an agreement between the clubs is imminent.
The current options on the right side are limited. Besides Arthur and the now-loaned Tape, Lucas Vazquez and Tim Oermann are available. Englishman Jarell Quansah, primarily a central defender, will be used in that position if needed. For the Bundesliga opener on Saturday against SV Elversberg, Quansah is expected to take on the right-back role in a four-man defense. The club's injury list, viewable on our injuries page, shows further absences: Arthur, Kennet Eichhorn, Martin Terrier, and Montrell Culbreath are currently sidelined. This situation highlights the urgency to streamline the squad and make targeted additions.
The loan of Tape is a clear signal for the planned signing of Guela Doué. Should the Ivorian arrive, Bayer Leverkusen would have a clear hierarchy on the right defensive side for the demanding tasks of the new season. The team aims to build on the strong offensive record of the previous campaign, which saw 59 goals scored. The next test comes with the home game against Union Berlin. The sporting leadership around Simon Rolfes continues to work on making the squad leaner and more competitive before the transfer window closes, aiming to gradually close the 24-point gap to leaders Bayern Munich.
