Bayer 04 Leverkusen Footballers Religion 2026/2027 Squad

Bayer 04 Leverkusen is currently in its 123rd season in existence, marking its 48th consecutive year in the Bundesliga. In addition to the domestic league, the club is competing in the DFB-Pokal, the DFL-Supercup, and the UEFA Champions League. After more than 30 years without silverware, the club won its historic first Bundesliga title and its second DFB-Pokal in 2024, becoming the first German team to secure an unbeaten domestic double while setting the European record for consecutive unbeaten competitive games.

Beyond their collective achievements on the pitch, Bayer Leverkusen features players from diverse religious faiths. Squad members like Victor Boniface and Equi Fernández are well-known Christians, while Moussa Diaby, Ibrahim Maza, and Edmond Tapsoba are practicing Muslims.

Below you can find the list of all Leverkusen players and their respective religious beliefs. If you spot any mistake regarding a player’s religion, please contact us for correction.

Mark Flekken Religion

Mark Flekken is a Dutch professional footballer who has not publicly disclosed his personal religious beliefs.

Mark Flekken was born on 13 June 1993 in Bocholtz, Netherlands, to René and Annie Flekken. He began his senior career with Alemannia Aachen before moving to SpVgg Greuther Fürth in 2013. Flekken subsequently signed with MSV Duisburg in 2016 and then SC Freiburg in 2018, making his Bundesliga debut that season. In July 2023, he transferred to Premier League club Brentford for a reported €13 million, where he served as the primary goalkeeper for two seasons.

In June 2025, Flekken signed for Bayer Leverkusen on a three-year deal for a reported fee of around €10 million. He made his competitive debut for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on 9 August 2025, securing a 2–0 victory over 1. FC Union Berlin with three saves and a clean sheet.

Loïc Badé Religion

Loïc Badé is a French professional footballer who has not publicly shared his personal religious beliefs.

Loïc Badé was born on 11 April 2000 in Sèvres, a southwestern suburb of Paris in the Île-de-France region of France, to parents of Ivorian origin. After progressing through the academies of various French clubs, Badé joined La Liga side Sevilla for a transfer fee of €12 million, contributing to the team’s triumph in the UEFA Europa League, notably scoring in a 3–0 win over Manchester United in the quarter-finals. On 21 August 2025, he signed a five-year contract with Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen running until 30 June 2030, in a deal worth €25 million plus add-ons. He made his debut for the German side shortly after joining.

Equi Fernández Religion

Equi Fernández is an Argentine professional footballer who is a practicing Christian.

Equi Fernández plays as a midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen. Previously, he played for Boca Juniors in Argentina and Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah. On 1 September 2025, Bayer Leverkusen signed Fernández on a five-year contract for a reported €30 million. Later that month, on 13 September, he made his debut in a 3–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, receiving a red card in the stoppage time.

Victor Boniface Religion

Victor Boniface is a Nigerian professional footballer who identifies as a devout Christian.

Victor Boniface was born on 23 December 2000 in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, where he was raised by his grandparents in a military barracks following the early loss of his parents. His mother died in a car accident in 2019. Boniface began his career in Nigeria with Real Sapphire Academy before moving to Europe to join Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt in 2019, where he helped secure consecutive Eliteserien titles in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, he transferred to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, scoring nine goals in 37 matches and winning the Belgian Cup. His standout performances also earned him the UEFA Europa League top scorer honors after netting six goals during that campaign.

In July 2023, Boniface joined Bayer Leverkusen, helping them win the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal during a historic 2023–24 season, while earning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award. Following a season-long loan spell with Werder Bremen during the 2025–26 campaign, he returned to the Leverkusen squad ahead of the 2026–27 season.

Miguel Gutiérrez Religion

Miguel Gutiérrez is a Spanish professional footballer who has not publicly shared details about his specific religious beliefs.

Miguel Gutiérrez plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Bayer Leverkusen. He previously played for Real Madrid, Girona, and Napoli. On August 5, 2026, Gutiérrez joined Bayer Leverkusen for €30 million on a contract running until June 2031. A few days later, he made his competitive debut for Bayer Leverkusen, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-3 Bundesliga away draw against SV Elversberg.

Aleix García Religion

Aleix García is a Spanish professional footballer who has not publicly shared details about his specific religious beliefs.

Aleix García came through the Villarreal youth academy, making his senior debut for the first team in La Liga in 2015 at the age of 17. In August 2015, he joined Premier League side Manchester City and was subsequently loaned to Girona and Royal Excel Mouscron. He signed with Dinamo București permanently in October 2020 before spending a brief stint on loan at Eibar from January to June 2021. García rejoined Girona permanently in July 2021, eventually becoming club captain during the 2022–23 season. Under his leadership, Girona achieved a historic third-place finish in the 2023–24 La Liga campaign, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.

In June 2024, García signed a five-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen for a transfer fee of €18 million. With the club, he won the DFL-Supercup and finished as Bundesliga runner-up in the same season.

Moussa Diaby Religion

Moussa Diaby is a French professional footballer who is a practicing Muslim.

Moussa Diaby was born on 7 July 1999 in Paris, France, to parents who had immigrated from Mali. He joined Espérance Paris 19ème in 2009 to begin his football career before entering the Paris Saint-Germain youth academy in 2013 and making his senior debut during the 2018–19 season. In July 2019, he transferred to Bayer Leverkusen for a reported €15 million, scoring 49 goals and providing 47 assists in 172 appearances over four seasons. He moved to Aston Villa in the Premier League for €55 million in July 2023 before joining Al-Ittihad in a €60 million transfer the following year, where he won the 2024–25 Saudi Pro League.

On 1 September 2026, Diaby returned to Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of €30 million.

Facundo Medina Religion

Facundo Medina is an Argentine professional footballer who has not publicly shared details about his specific religious beliefs.

Facundo Medina plays as a centre-back or left-back for Bayer Leverkusen and the Argentina national team. He previously played for Talleres, Lens, and Marseille before signing a five-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen in August 2026. He joined Leverkusen on a transfer deal worth €25 million, including add-ons.

On August 22, 2026, Medina made his competitive debut for Bayer Leverkusen and scored his first goal for the club on September 5, 2026, against 1. FC Union Berlin in a 4-0 home victory in the Bundesliga.

Jonas Hofmann Religion

Jonas Hofmann is a German professional footballer who has not publicly discussed his specific religious beliefs or faith.

Jonas Hofmann plays as a right winger for Bayer Leverkusen. He began his youth career with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, joining their academy at age 12 and spending seven years there before transferring to Borussia Dortmund in 2011. He spent the 2014–15 season on loan at 1. FSV Mainz 05. In January 2016, he moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach, signing a four-year deal until 2020. After only joining Gladbach during the winter break, he made his debut for the club on 23 January 2016 in a 1–3 loss to former club Dortmund.

On 5 July 2023, Hofmann signed for Bayer Leverkusen until 2027, after activating his release clause of €10 million. A month later, on 12 August, he made his debut and scored a goal in an 8–0 DFB-Pokal away victory against Teutonia Ottensen.

Away from football, Hofmann married sports presenter Laura Hofmann on 2 June 2023. They welcomed their first son in the summer of 2025 and announced they are expecting their second child in August 2026.

Christian Kofane Religion

Christian Kofane is a Cameroonian professional footballer who practices the Christian faith, though he has not publicly stated it.

Christian Kofane was born on 26 July 2006 in Douala, Cameroon. He moved to France at a young age, thereby gaining dual Cameroonian-French citizenship. Kofane began his professional career with Spanish Segunda División side Albacete Balompié during the 2024–25 season, scoring on his debut against Racing de Santander after just two minutes. In July 2025, Bayer 04 Leverkusen signed him on a contract running until June 2029 after paying a sum higher than his €5 million release clause. On 15 August, he recorded a goal and an assist in his first DFB-Pokal match, helping his team to a 4–0 away victory.

Jarell Quansah Religion

Jarell Quansah is an English professional footballer who has not publicly shared information about his personal religious beliefs.

Quansah was born on 29 January 2003 in Warrington, England, to a family of Ghanaian descent. He joined the Liverpool academy at the age of five and subsequently progressed through the youth ranks before making his senior debut for the club in August 2023. During his time at Liverpool, he won the Carabao Cup and Premier League title before moving to join League One club Bristol Rovers on loan.

In July 2025, Quansah signed for Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year deal for an initial fee of £30 million, with an additional £5 million in add-ons. That same year, in August, he scored his first goal on his Bundesliga debut in a 2–1 home defeat against Hoffenheim.

Ibrahim Maza Religion

Ibrahim Maza is an Algerian professional footballer who practices Islam and is a Muslim.

Ibrahim Maza was born on 24 November 2005 in Berlin, Germany, to an Algerian father from Algiers and a Vietnamese mother. He plays the position of an attacking midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen and the Algeria national team. Maza began his youth career with local club Reinickendorfer Füchse before joining Hertha BSC’s academy in 2016. He signed his first professional contract with Hertha in April 2023 and made his Bundesliga debut shortly thereafter, becoming the club’s second-youngest debutant in league history at age 17.

In the summer of 2025, Ibrahim Maza transferred from Hertha BSC to Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of €12 million, signing a contract that runs through June 2030. He made his Bundesliga debut against Hoffenheim and scored his first goals for the club on 8 November by netting a brace in a 6–0 win over Heidenheim.

Afonso Moreira Religion

Afonso Moreira is a Portuguese professional footballer who has not publicly shared details about his specific religious beliefs.

Moreira plays as a left winger or left midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen. Previously, he played for football clubs Sporting CP, Gil Vicente, and Lyon. On 17 June 2026, Afonso joined Bayer Leverkusen for €32 million on a five-year contract. He made his competitive debut for Leverkusen on August 29, 2026, against SV Elversberg.

Edmond Tapsoba Religion

Edmond Tapsoba is a Burkinabé professional footballer who is a practicing Muslim.

Tapsoba plays as a centre-back for Bayer Leverkusen and the Burkina Faso national team. He began his youth career in his hometown of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, playing street football before joining local clubs Salitas FC and US Ouagadougou. In 2018, at age 19, he moved to Europe, signing with Portuguese side Leixões SC before transferring to Vitória SC’s youth setup later that year.

On 31 January 2020, Tapsoba agreed to a five-and-a-half-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of €18 million plus €7 million for objectives. He was part of the squad that won both the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal. His performances earned him a nomination for the 2022 African Player of the Year award and again in 2024.

Ahead of the 2026–27 season, head coach Carles Martínez Novell named Tapsoba as the club’s captain, replacing Robert Andrich.

Malik Tillman Religion

Malik Tillman is an American professional footballer who has not publicly shared details about his specific religious beliefs.

Malik Tillman was born on May 28, 2002, in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany, to a German mother and an African-American father who served as a U.S. Army serviceman stationed in the region. His parents separated when he was around four years old, after which he was raised primarily by his mother.

Tillman played for Greuther Fürth and joined Bayern Munich’s youth system in 2015. After featuring for Bayern Munich II, he made his first-team debut in August 2021. In July 2022, he was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Rangers for the 2022-23 season, subsequently earning a spot in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Season. He joined PSV Eindhoven on loan in August 2023, helping the team secure the Eredivisie title. Although PSV made his transfer permanent in May 2024, Tillman moved to Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025 for a reported fee of €35 million, making him the second-most expensive American player in football history. On August 30, Tillman scored on his debut with the club, a 3–3 league draw to Werder Bremen.

Patrik Schick Religion

Patrik Schick is a Czech professional footballer who has not publicly shared his personal religious beliefs.

Patrik Schick plays as a striker for Bayer Leverkusen and the Czech Republic national team. He began his professional career at AC Sparta Prague. After a loan spell at Bohemians 1905 in 2015–16, he moved to Italian club UC Sampdoria in 2016 for €5.5 million. Subsequently, he played for A.S. Roma and RB Leipzig, helping the latter reach the Champions League semi-finals.

On 8 September 2020, Schick joined Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €26.5 million plus bonuses. There he won a domestic double of the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal in 2024. In the 2024–25 season, Schick led Leverkusen with 27 goals across all competitions, though the team finished second in the Bundesliga. He extended his contract with the club until 2030 in August 2025. On 25 April, he scored his 100th goal for Leverkusen in all competitions, in a 2–1 victory over Cologne, in the Rheinisches Derby.

Lucas Vázquez Religion

Lucas Vázquez is a Spanish professional footballer who has not publicly shared details about his specific religious beliefs.

Lucas Vázquez plays as a right-back or winger for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. After starting his career at Real Madrid, Vázquez made his first-team debut in 2015 following a season-long loan spell at Espanyol, where he had previously made his La Liga debut. During his trophy-laden tenure with Real Madrid, he won five UEFA Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, four UEFA Super Cups, four FIFA Club World Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, one Copa del Rey, and four Supercopa de España trophies. In August 2025, Vázquez joined Bayer Leverkusen as a free agent on a contract running until June 2027. He scored his first goal for the club on 24 January 2026 in a 1–0 Bundesliga victory over Werder Bremen.