Dutchman Poku joins Bayer Leverkusen while ten Hag plans rebuild after the exit of Alonso

Bayer Leverkusen drew fast young winger Ernest Poku from AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday to strengthen his Dutch connection under new coach Erik ten Hag.

Poku can play on both wings and his pace attracted attention in the Europa League last season. Born in Germany, he reached the semi -final of the European Championship under the age of 21 with the Netherlands.

The 21-year-old arrives a five-year contract. Leverkusen announced his signing on social media with an image of the character Lightning McQueen from the film «Cars» and a compilation of clips from Poku who dribbled past defenders.

«I leave defenders for breakfast,» Poku said in the video. «Faster than fast. Faster than fast. I’m Ernest Poku.»

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He already played four games in the 2025-26 season, scored one goal and sets two more, thanks to the involvement of Alkmaar in the qualification of the Europa Conference League and the start of the Dutch League last week.

In anticipation of the first competitive match of ten Hag as Leverkusen coach in the German Cup on Friday, Poku joins the Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken as a new signature. The club also brought in the American attacker Malik Tillman of the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

It is part of a broader rebuild after coach Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid and players of Leverkusen’s title-winning 2023-24 season left, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka.

The size of the changes led Patrik Schick to say last month that he did not expect Leverkusen to fight for the Bundesliga title without important signing sessions.