For the first time in history, Bayer Leverkusen have won the Bundesliga.
They have ended Bayern Munich’s strangehold on German football, being led by Xabi Alonso from the dugout.
To get there, he sought to build on the club’s existing talent, but also brought in some quality players from the Premier League, who have more than repaid his faith.
Here are the former stars of the Premier League who have contributed to Leverkusen’s success.
When Granit Xhaka threw his captain’s armband to the floor and willingly invited the furore of Arsenal fans in October 2019, it was hard to imagine him ever reviving his career whether in north London or elsewhere.
He had half a foot out the door to an ambitious – but ultimately a failed – project at Hertha Berlin before being convinced to stay at the Emirates Stadium by Mikel Arteta.
Before eventually departing the Gunners for good in 2023, Xhaka re-established reputation as gifted midfielder. By the time he made his return to the Bundesliga with Leverkusen, he was a reliable and senior presence.
That’s helped mature Alonso’s young stars. Together with the experienced Robert Andrich, Xhaka has marshalled a midfield which has encouraged their attacking talent to flourish.
Once upon a time, Jeremie Frimpong was on the books at Manchester City. In fact, he spent a whopping nine years in their youth ranks, but made the wise move to Celtic before playing a senior game.
While in Glasgow, Frimpong established himself as one of Europe’s best up-and-coming right-backs, making the move to Leverkusen in 2021.
It wasn’t until Alonso’s arrival that Frimpong’s humungous talent began to burst at the seams. In the Spaniard’s 3-4-3 this season, the Dutchman has contributed eight goals and eight assists in 27 Bundsliga matches. Those are better numbers than those for a lot of top-class wingers.
Having failed to make the grade at Arsenal and then only showing his quality in bursts in the senior ranks of Southampton, Nathan Tella made the most of his chance to impress on loan at Championship winners Burnley last season.
Leverkusen snapped the versatile forward – who’s played in a similar wing-back role to Frimpong as well – for a cool £20m and has championed the squad’s next-man-up mentality.
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