Leverkusen make Leno loan permanent
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have made permanent the signing of goalkeeper Bernd Leno from VfB Stuttgart after the 19-year-old loanee helped the club progress to the round of 16.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Bernd Leno from VfB Stuttgart after the 19-year-old's successful loan spell with the club.
The former German youth international has put pen to paper on a contract that will keep him at the Bay-Arena until the summer of 2017. The two sides have not confirmed the fee but it is believed to be approximately €8m.
The keeper arrived in Leverkusen in August after No1 René Adler was forced to undergo knee surgery. The loan was originally scheduled to run until the end of December, but given Leno's impressive form as ever-present in a team now qualified for the UEFA Champions League knockout stage, Leverkusen have moved to make the deal permanent.
"In Bernd Leno, we have secured the long-term services of one of the outstanding goalkeeping talents in Germany," said sporting director Rudi Völler. "He has deputised superbly for the injured René Adler and played a big part in us reaching the last 16 of the Champions League."
Leno, the youngest German goalkeeper to appear in the UEFA Champions League, said: "I feel very good at Bayer and am grateful for the chance to play in the Bundesliga and Champions League. I want to repay that trust. The club had several other options but picked me, this impressed me very much and that's why I want to stay at Leverkusen."
