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

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

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

“Tim Oermann has quickly become a key player at Sturm Graz and has also gained valuable international experience in the Europa League,” says Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes. “By ending the loan early, we’re taking this into account: Given his significant progress over the past few months, Tim can become a valuable player for Bayer 04 as early as this season.”

The Bochum native, who came up through the ranks at VfL and played a total of 51 competitive matches for the first team, is pleased with his development. “I had prepared myself for a full year in Austria and was very satisfied with my standing in Graz,” said Oermann, emphasizing: “The fact that Bayer 04 is bringing me back much sooner than originally planned shows me that I’m on the right track. All my energy and my heart now belong to the Werkself.”

After 19 games, Bayer 04 Leverkusen sits in sixth place in the Bundesliga, but with a four-point gap to the Champions League spots, they have 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 (on loan, Borussia Mönchengladbach), Artem Stepanov (on loan, FC Utrecht), Claudio Echeverri (end of loan, Manchester City)