Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz will miss “several weeks” with an ankle injury, the German club confirmed on Monday.
Wirtz sustained the injury in Leverkusen’s 2-0 home loss to Werder Bremen on Saturday, with the midfielder exiting the pitch in the 59th minute, 13 minutes after coming on for Emi Buendia.
The 21-year-old was pictured leaving the stadium on crutches and support boots and will miss Leverkusen’s Champions League round of 16 second leg clash against rivals Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
Leverkusen, in a statement on the club’s website, confirmed that Wirtz has “suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle”.
🤕 Florian Wirtz will face a spell on the sidelines. Keep your head up and come back stronger, Flo! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/jcWSSQLV4d
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 10, 2025
Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen’s managing sports director, said, “The loss of Florian obviously hits us hard in this phase of the season, but we will compensate for him with a strong squad.
“We know Florian and also know he will come back as soon as possible. Everybody will support him in that. We are assuming he will be fully fit again for the end of the season run-in.”
Wirtz’s injury provides a huge problem for Xabi Alonso with his side looking to overturn a 3-0 first leg deficit against Bayern.
He has 15 goals and 13 assists in 39 matches across all competitions this season and is likely to miss Germany’s two-legged UEFA Nations League quarterfinal tie against Italy later this month.
Leverkusen, with 53 points, sit eight points behind leader Bayern in the Bundesliga standings after 25 league games.
