Erik ten Hag has been officially announced as the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, replacing Xabi Alonso at the helm. The Dutch tactician has signed a contract running until June 2027, marking his return to management following his departure from Manchester United.

Ten Hag takes over at a turbulent moment for the Bundesliga runners-up. Leverkusen not only lost their grip on the Bundesliga title but are also facing an imminent squad shake-up — with star players like Jonathan Tah, Jeremie Frimpong, and Florian Wirtz reportedly close to exits.

Despite the challenges, the former Ajax and United boss is embracing the rebuild:

"Bayer 04 are one of the best clubs in Germany and also among the top clubs in Europe. The club offers outstanding conditions, I've been very impressed with the discussions of the management," said the Dutchman before adding: "I've come to Leverkusen to continue with the ambition shown in recent years. It's an attractive challenge to set up something together in this period of change and develop an ambitious team."