Find out who owns the Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen as we dive into a detailed overview of the ownership structure and history of the club.
Bayer Leverkusen was not well known by fans globally until they conquered German football by winning the Bundesliga undefeated.
The club did so with the presence of not necessarily big stars, but those with just football talent. So who are the financiers of the team?
Bayer Leverkusen owner
As of 2024, Bayer Leverkusen is owned by the giant pharmaceutical company Bayer AG. The company holds a hundred percent stake in the club.
You probably might wonder why it differs from other German soccer clubs running under the 50+ rule. The thing is, the company is deep-rooted in the entire history of the club; thus, the rule does not apply to the team.
Bayer Leverkusen origin
Bayer Leverkusen soccer club was founded in 1904 by employees of Bayer AG pharmaceutical company.
adsInitially, the club was part of the TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen and RTHC Bayer Leverkusen sports team, which operates other sporting activities including basketball, handball, tennis, etc.
Read: Who is the Owner of Italian Serie A club Atalanta BC
However, in 1999, the soccer department became a separate entity and acted independently as a fully functional soccer team.
Bayer Leverkusen Owners (Bayer AG history and net worth)
Bayer AG is one of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the world, based in Germany. It is valued at around 20.14 billion USD.
The company's areas of interest include consumer healthcare products, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, seeds, and biotechnology products.
Bayer AG was founded in 1863 by Friedrich Bayer and Friedrich Weskott with the aim of producing dyestuff products. However, their interests expanded to other areas.
Bayer AG is behind the trademarked name Aspirin, one of the most widely known products globally.
The company has established itself as a household name in the pharmaceutical industry with the acquisition of big brands and ownership of different stocks globally.
Bayer AG, through its successful business ventures across the world, finances Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Prior to the Bundesliga success, the company spent a significant amount on the player acquisition.
Club president (CEO) and board of directors
Fernando Carro de Prada is a Spaniard and the current president and CEO of the Bayer Leverkusen soccer club, a position he has held since 2018.
His performance from player acquisition to the overall management of the team helped Bayer Leverkusen claim the league title for the first time in their history after numerous attempts.
Bayer AG source of wealth
Bayer is one of the richest companies in the medical field. Its products cut across Prescription of pharmaceuticals to over-the-counter drugs, seeds, and plant biotechnology, etc.
Pharmaceutical products
Pharmaceutical products are the top-selling products of the company. Its catalogue contributed an estimated revenue of €12.05 billion from €40.15 billion generated by the company.
Agricultural
Bayer AG has ventured into the agro industry. Its product catalogue cuts across many areas, including fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, etc.
In a bid to become a global leader, the Bayer AG group has acquired numerous companies across the world, including Sterling Winthrop.
Bayer AG ownership structure
Bayer AG's ownership structure comprises several shareholders worldwide. They include Temasek Holdings, Norges Bank, Silchester International Investors, etc.
Temasek Holdings is the majority shareholder of the Bayer AG group, with over 3.5%, closely followed by Norges Bank with 3.1%.
Bayer Leverkusen Ownership History
Bayer Leverkusen was founded in 1904 by employees of the Bayer AG group at the time and has remained under the control of the company ever since.
Bayer AG owns, controls, and finances the activities of the club in the German Bundesliga.
Bayer Leverkusen Trophies and Achievements
Bayer Leverkusen, after a series of attempts at winning the league title, won it in the 2023/24 season. It was a milestone for the club and their owners following years of significant investment in the team.
Leading up to the title, Bayer AG spent a significant amount of money on player acquisition.
Bayer Leverkusen made significant investments, including Nathan Tella (€23 million from Southampton AFC), Victor Boniface (€21.70 million from Union SG), and Granit Xhaka (€15.00 million from Arsenal FC).
Other notable arrivals include Alejandro Grimaldo (free transfer from Benfica), Jonas Hofmann (€10.00 million from Borussia M'gladbach), and Arthur (€7.00 million from América-MG).
Leverkusen completed the double with the DFB Pokal success, which took the team's tally to three trophies. At the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Leverkusen lifted their first-ever DFL-Supercup.
In European football, Bayer Leverkusen finished as runners-up in the finals of the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League campaign.
The "Factory XI" were also runners-up in the final of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League after previously winning the trophy in 1987–88, then as the UEFA Cup.
Bayer Leverkusen nickname
Bayer Leverkusen's nickname is a German word known as Die Werkself, meaning The Factory XI. The club is also referred to as the Die Schwarzroten, which means "The Black and Reds.".
Bayer Leverkusen stadium
The club plays its home games at the BayArena, located in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was built in 1958 and has a seating capacity of 30,210. The stadium was constructed at a cost of €70 million.