Official | Edmond Tapsoba named new Bayer Leverkusen captain

Official | Edmond Tapsoba named new Bayer Leverkusen captain Bayer Leverkusen head coach Carles Martinez has confirmed Edmond Tapsoba as the club’s new captain ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. The Burkina Faso international succeeds Robert Andrich, whose own future at the BayArena remains uncertain. Tapsoba had already worn the armband throughout much of pre-season. Martinez has now made the arrangement permanent. Tapsoba will lead the team. The decision represents another significant step in the 27-year-old’s evolution at Leverkusen. Tapsoba joined the club from Vitória Guimarães for approximately €20m in January 2020 and immediately established himself as one of the Bundesliga side’s most important defenders. He has since accumulated 186 Bundesliga appearances and remained one of the few constants through several significant changes in personnel and coaching staff. Tapsoba’s elevation also follows naturally from his decision to extend his Leverkusen contract through 2031 earlier this year. The Burkina Faso international specifically spoke about wanting to assume “more responsibility” when committing his long-term future to the club in April. He will now do precisely that with the captain’s armband. Edmond Tapsoba emerges as leader of reconstructed Leverkusen The promotion comes after another individually impressive campaign. Tapsoba contributed five goals and three assists last season while emerging as one of the brighter performers during an otherwise disappointing Bundesliga year for Leverkusen. His importance to the team has hardly come as a surprise. Get German Football News argued during last winter’s Burkina Faso AFCON preview that Tapsoba had long been one of Leverkusen’s most underappreciated stars . The defender was described as “the complete package one wants in a defender” thanks to his tackling timing, creativity in the build-up and exceptional recovery speed. That assessment also reflected how central Tapsoba had been to the club well before receiving the armband. He formed part of the defensive foundation of Leverkusen’s unbeaten 2023/24 Bundesliga title campaign and subsequently remained when many other members of that historic squad moved on. His role looks set to become even more pronounced this season. GGFN’s 2026/27 Bayer Leverkusen tactical preview identified Tapsoba as one of the experienced pillars remaining within another heavily reconstructed squad. Martinez’s move toward a back four also places the Burkinabé defender firmly at the heart of Leverkusen’s defensive organisation. Statements on Tapsoba’s elevation “I think this is the right moment for Edi to be captain,” the Spanish coach said. “He has been at the club for a long time and embodies values through which he can connect with everyone in the team, with the fans and also with me.” “We tried to be honest with him,” Martinez said of Andrich. “He wanted to know what role he has next season. At the moment, it is the case that he plays a rather subordinate role in that midfield position.” GGFN  |  Peter Weis