Guéla Doué (r.) is out. © APA / KEVIN C. COX

Leverkusen's top signing Doué will be out for a long time

Bayer Leverkusen will have to do without their top transfer Guéla Doué for the time being.

September 16, 2026

From:
Christian Staffler

The Ivorian international suffered a muscle injury in his right calf during Bayer Leverkusen's final training session before their Europa League match against Slovenian champions NK Celje, the club announced. This was confirmed by an MRI scan in the afternoon.

The 23-year-old will therefore be unavailable for the next few weeks, it was announced. Leverkusen had only signed the World Cup participant from French first division club Racing Strasbourg just under two weeks ago, shortly before the end of the transfer window.

According to multiple media reports, Bayer Leverkusen paid a fixed transfer fee of around €30 million for the younger brother of French attacking star Desiré Doué. This made the defender the most expensive signing of the summer.