Claudio Echeverri Joins Bayer Leverkusen On Loan From Manchester City

Claudio Echeverri, a skilled 19-year-old midfielder from Argentina, is joining Bayer Leverkusen on loan from Manchester City for the 2025-26 season. Leverkusen secured the deal by offering a small fee and paying all of Echeverri’s salary. They outbid Girona and other European teams to get him as confirmed by recent reports.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester City agreed to loan Echeverri to Bayer Leverkusen for one full season. The deal allows Leverkusen to have him without any option to buy as stated in the loan agreement. Echeverri will have a medical exam in Germany on Wednesday. Then, he’ll join the Bundesliga runners-up. Many teams, like Girona and Roma, showed interest in him, but Leverkusen moved fast to sign him. Echeverri debuted for City in the FA Cup final, where they lost to Crystal Palace. He scored his first goal against Al Ain in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, he hasn’t played much under City’s coach, Pep Guardiola. He will link up with another Argentine player, Exequiel Palacios, at Leverkusen.

WHY THE MOVE IS IMPORTANT

Leverkusen were runner-ups in the Bundesliga last year, just behind Bayern Munich. They have a strong squad and are managed by Erik ten Hag, a former Manchester United coach. Echeverri will bring flair and energy to their midfield. In his stop-start first year in Europe, he struggled to play regularly. Last season, he got injured after scoring in the Club World Cup. Despite interest from teams like Borussia Dortmund and Roma, Manchester City believe in Echeverri’s potential. They refused to include a buy clause in the deal. This move could help Echeverri grow as a player and aid Leverkusen in winning the Bundesliga and Champions League this season, especially since Leverkusen aims to build on its strong performance after finishing second last season.

WHAT NEXT FOR ECHEVERRI AND LEVERKUSEN?

Leverkusen are gearing up for their first Bundesliga match of the season against Hoffenheim this weekend. Last year, they finished second, thirteen points behind Bayern Munich. This season, every point will matter, so their squad depth is crucial. Echeverri will aim to become a first-choice starter, increase his chances of making Argentina’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, and help Leverkusen bid for their first league title since 2023. For Manchester City, their goal is for Echeverri to return to compete for a major role in their team next year.