Bayer Leverkusen has terminated Tim Oermann’s loan after only six months. And for the best possible reason.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen has terminated Tim Oermann’s loan early and wants to rely on him in the second half of the season. The club announced this on Deadline Day.

The defensive player was signed in the summer of 2025 for just under €2 million and immediately loaned to Sturm Graz. The 22-year-old was supposed to gain playing experience there until the end of the season. But the plan was changed after only six months because Oermann has impressed so much in such a short time that he is now an option for the Werkself.

“Tim Oermann has quickly developed into a key player at Sturm Graz and has also gained valuable experience internationally in the Europa League,” said Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes. “We are taking this into account by ending the loan early: given his great progress in recent months, Tim can already become a valuable player for Bayer 04 this season.”

The Bochum native, who was trained at VfL and has played a total of 51 competitive games for the pros, is delighted with his development. “I had prepared myself for a whole year in Austria and was very happy with my standing in Graz,” said Oermann, emphasizing: “The fact that Bayer 04 is now bringing me in much earlier than originally planned shows me that I am on the right track. All my energy and my heart now belong to the Werkself.”

Bayer 04 Leverkusen is in sixth place in the Bundesliga after 19 games, four points behind the Champions League spots but with a game in hand.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s winter transfers so far

New signings: Tim Oermann (end of loan, Sturm Graz) Issa Traoré (Djoliba AC), Jonas Omlin (loan, Borussia Mönchengladbach), Artem Stepanov (end of loan, 1. FC Nürnberg)

Departures: Jeanuël Belocian (loan, VfL Wolfsburg), Alejo Sarco (loan, Borussia Mönchengladbach), Artem Stepanov (loan, FC Utrecht), Claudio Echeverri (end of loan, Manchester City)