Hertha’s Ibrahim Maza, centre, shoots at the goal of Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schw盲be during the Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Koln and Hertha BSC, at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany, Saturday April 5, 2025. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP)
Bayer Leverkusen signs highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin
BERLIN (AP) 鈥 Bayer Leverkusen has snapped up highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from second-division club Hertha Berlin in its first signing for next season.
Hertha’s Ibrahim Maza, centre, shoots at the goal of Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schw盲be during the Bundesliga 2 soccer match between FC Koln and Hertha BSC, at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, Germany, Saturday April 5, 2025. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP)
BERLIN (AP) 鈥 Bayer Leverkusen has snapped up highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from second-division club Hertha Berlin in its first signing for next season.
The 19-year-old Maza, an attacking midfielder, signed a contract through June 2030, the 2024 Bundesliga champion said on Thursday.
Kicker magazine reported the clubs agreed on a transfer fee of around 12 million euros ($13.6 million) for the player.
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It promises to be the start of a busy summer at Leverkusen with key players including Jonathan Tan set to leave, uncertainty over the future of star Florian Wirtz, and coach Xabi Alonso expected to leave amid links to former club Real Madrid.
Former Barcelona coach Xavi and Erik ten Hag, who was previously in charge of Manchester United, are reportedly candidates to succeed Alonso, who led unbeaten Leverkusen to a league and cup double last season.
The Berlin-born Maza became Hertha鈥檚 most promising youth player after joining the capital club鈥檚 junior ranks from local club Reinickendorfer F眉chse in 2016.
Hertha was relegated from the Bundesliga in 2023 鈥 Maza scored in the club鈥檚 last game in the division 鈥 and he became one of the team鈥檚 key attacking threats in the second division where the 1.8-meter right-footed player scored five goals and set up five more this season.
鈥淢aza is currently one of the most interesting young attacking players,鈥 Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said. 鈥淚brahim suits us and our style of football. He has outstanding technical skills, can dribble past defenders, and he has an eye for his teammates, which he knows how to use brilliantly.鈥
Maza played for Germany Under-18s through Under-20s before opting to represent Algeria. He turned down previous offers to leave Hertha and extended his contract with the club in August last year to 2027, but meant he was bound to leave sooner rather than later.
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鈥淎s a Berliner, the greatest thing for me was to become a professional player at Hertha BSC and to be able to wear the (Hertha) flag on my chest in Olympiastadion,鈥 Maza said in a Hertha statement. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful now that the club is giving me the chance to take the next step at the highest level in Leverkusen.鈥
Hertha said it will give Maza 鈥渁 fitting farewell鈥 before he leaves. There are still three rounds of the second division remaining and Hertha has two games at home.
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