Bayer Leverkusen signs Spanish centre-back Mario Hermoso. The 29-year-old will join the German champions and German Cup winners on loan from Italian top club AS Roma from now until June 30, 2025. He has five caps for the Spanish national team.

"Mario Hermoso is an experienced international player who, in addition to playing as a centre-back, is also a very capable and organised left-back," said Simon Rolfes, managing director of sport at Bayer Leverkusen, describing the 1.84m defender. "Mario will also bring more versatility to our defence and will make up well for the absence of Jeanuel Belosian."

Hermoso has spent the past few seasons at Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, winning the 20-21 La Liga title with the club. Last summer, Hermoso, who played for Atletico Madrid for five years, became a free agent and signed for AS Roma. So far, he has made 13 appearances for AS Roma, scoring 1 goal.

Hermoso knows Bayer 04 well, having faced them twice in the 2022/23 Champions League. "Both games were exciting and neither side dropped points like they did a week ago in Madrid," said Hermoso, who has five caps for Spain. "I'm really looking forward to achieving big goals with Bayer 04. Everything here is set up for a successful season on the pitch."