Bayer 04 Leverkusen, commonly referred to as "Leverkusen", was founded in 1904 and is a professional football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The club is nicknamed "Die Werkself" (The Factory Team).
The Leverkusen club was founded in 1904 by employees of the pharmaceutical company Bayer, originating from a department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen and RTHC Bayer Leverkusen, where members of these sports clubs participated in athletics, gymnastics, basketball, handball, rowing, tennis, and hockey. In 1999, the football department separated from the sports club.
On April 14, 2024, Bayer Leverkusen defeated Werder Bremen to win their first Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich's eleven-year league championship streak. This is the club's first trophy since winning the DFB-Pokal in the 1992-93 season. On May 9, 2024, Bayer Leverkusen drew with AS Roma in the Europa League, extending their unbeaten streak to 49 matches, breaking Benfica's record of 48 unbeaten matches set between 1963 and 1965.