Bayer Leverkusen's 10 biggest sales of all time

Cameron Smith

• 26 Oct 2024 11:00 BST
• 5 min read

Bayer Leverkusen ended their long wait for a Bundesliga title with their first ever German top flight victory in 2024.

Xabi Alonso’s side went unbeaten throughout the entire campaign to claim a historic title that will be remembered for decades.

While their current crop of players finally delivered glory, Leverkusen have been blessed with a host of world-class stars over the years, including several who were sold for huge fees.

Below, FootballTransfers lists Bayer Leverkusen's 10 biggest sales ever.

READ MORE: Ajax's 10 biggest sales of all time

10. Kevin Kampl - €25m (to RB Leipzig, 2017)

Kevin Kampl took a rather unusual path from RB Salzburg to RB Leipzig. Rather than move directly from the Austrian side to their sister club in the Bundesliga, he went via Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.

The Slovenian spent just six months at Dortmund, following his move from Salzburg, before joining Leverkusen in 2015. After a successful two-year spell at the BayArena, Kampl was sold to RB Leipzig, with Leverkusen earning a €9m profit.

READ MORE: RB Leipzig's 10 biggest sales of all time

9. Benjamin Henrichs - €20m (to Monaco, 2018)

Benjamin Henrichs progressed through the Bayer Leverkusen academy system before bursting onto the first-team scene in 2016.

Henrichs joined Monaco for €20m in 2018, but he was unable to become a consistent starter and he returned to the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig in 2020.

8. Andre Schurrle - €22m (to Chelsea, 2013)

Andre Schurrle only spent two seasons at Bayer Leverkusen before being poached by Premier League giants Chelsea in 2013.

However, the German winger never managed to establish himself as a regular starter at Stamford Bridge and, despite a promising first season, his game time soon diminished and he left in February 2015.

Schurrle then spent time at Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund, Fulham and Spartak Moscow before retiring in 2020, at the age of just 30.

7. Hakan Calhanoglu - €23.3m (to AC Milan, 2017)

After a brilliant debut campaign at Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen spent over €15m to sign Hakan Calhanoglu in 2014.

The Turkish midfielder enjoyed a productive three-year stint at the BayArena before opting to join AC Milan amid interest from a host of top European clubs.

Calhanoglu never really hit his best form at Milan, however, and he made the controversial decision to join arch-rivals Inter on a free transfer in 2021.

6. Julian Brandt - €25m (to Borussia Dortmund, 2019)

Julian Brandt joined Leverkusen from Wolfsburg’s academy in January 2014 and he became a first-team regular almost immediately, despite never making a senior appearance for Wolfsburg.

After five-and-a-half years, 215 games and 94 goal contributions, Brandt left Bayer Leverkusen to join Borussia Dortmund for €25m in 2019.

5. Bernd Leno - €25m (to Arsenal, 2015)

Bernd Leno racked up 304 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen and his consistent level of form attracted the interest of Arsenal in 2015.

The Gunners spent €25m to sign the German shot-stopper and he enjoyed three seasons as Arsenal’s number one goalkeeper.

However, he was demoted upon Aaron Ramsdale’s arrival in 2021 and Leno was sold to Fulham the following year.

4. Heung-min Son - €30m (to Tottenham, 2015)

Heung-min Son enjoyed an eye-catching final season at Hamburg and his performances convinced Leverkusen to spend €12.5m to sign him in 2013.

The South Korea legend developed nicely during his time at Leverkusen and after 40 goal contributions in 87 games for the club, he joined Tottenham for €30m in 2015.

Son has gone on to become an icon in north London, registering over 400 appearances and 150 goals for Spurs.

3. Leon Bailey - €32m (to Aston Villa, 2021)

Leon Bailey was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in both 2019 and 2020, while Manchester United and Liverpool were also interested in signing the Jamaican winger.

However, Villa won the race for his signature in 2021, with Bailey leaving Leverkusen with 156 appearances and 39 goals to his name.

2. Moussa Diaby - €55m (to Aston Villa, 2023)

Moussa Diaby followed in Bailey’s footsteps two years later, with the Frenchman also joining Aston Villa in a big-money move.

Diaby spent four years at Leverkusen, registering 97 goal contributions in 172 games, and he became Villa’s record signing upon his arrival. However, he spent just one season at Villa Park before moving to Saudi Arabia.

1. Kai Havertz - €80m (to Chelsea, 2020)

Kai Havertz was the golden boy of Bayer Leverkusen’s academy, and he became the club’s youngest ever Bundesliga debutant in 2016 and their youngest ever Bundesliga goalscorer the following year.

Havertz’s stature continued to grow at a staggering rate and after notching 27 goals and assists during the 2018/19 season, he finished third in the Golden Boy award.

Amid competition from Real Madrid, Chelsea pounced and the Blues spent a whopping €80m to sign Havertz in 2020. He scored the winning goal in the Champions League final during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, but he never quite displayed his true potential and Havertz was sold to Arsenal in 2023.

The 10 biggest Bayer Leverkusen sales of all time