RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - AUGUST 8: (L-R) Carles Martínez talks to Malik Tillman of Leverkusen during the pre-season friendly match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Sevilla FC at BayArena on August 8, 2026 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)
According to a report from Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg , Bayer Leverkusen could be contemplating a sale of attacking midfielder and former Bayern Munich academy prospect Malik Tillman — if it can receive a financial windfall for the USMNT star:
🚨🆕 Bayer 04 Leverkusen are open to selling Malik Tillman for an exceptional offer.
The 24 y/o attacking midfielder is now one to watch until Deadline Day.
Tillman’s release clause was €35m last summer. Activated by Leverkusen. @SkySportDE
Tillman has admitted that a summer transfer remains a possibility, but the Bayer Leverkusen player is also willing to give new head coach Carles Martínez an opportunity to change his outlook. Speaking to Sport Bild (via BuLiNews ), Tillman said he wants to understand Martínez’s plan before deciding what comes next, noting that the transfer window remains open.
Tillman was particularly candid about his first season at Leverkusen, describing the 2025/26 campaign as the “worst” of his career. The 24-year-old acknowledged that he failed to reach the level expected of him, but also suggested that his relationship with former coach Kasper Hjulmand contributed to his struggles.
Leverkusen invested €35 million to sign Tillman from PSV Eindhoven, creating significant expectations. Tillman recognizes that price tag and believes he must prove his value on the pitch. At the same time, he feels he lacked important support last season, specifically mentioning a lack of trust from his coach and backing from the club.
With a new coach now in charge, Tillman appears ready to wait and see whether his situation improves before making a final decision on his future.
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