BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen have snapped up highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from second-division club Hertha Berlin in their first signing for next season.
The 19-year-old Maza, an attacking midfielder, signed a contract through June 2030, the 2024 Bundesliga champion said on Thursday.
Kicker magazine reported the clubs agreed on a transfer fee of around 12 million euros ($13.6 million) for the player.
It promises to be the start of a busy summer at Leverkusen with key players including Jonathan Tan set to leave, uncertainty over the future of star Florian Wirtz, and coach Xabi Alonso expected to leave amid links to former club Real Madrid.
Former Barcelona coach Xavi and Erik ten Hag, who was previously in charge of Manchester United, are reportedly candidates to succeed Alonso, who led unbeaten Leverkusen to a league and cup double last season.
The Berlin-born Maza became Hertha’s most promising youth player after joining the capital club’s junior ranks from local club Reinickendorfer Füchse in 2016.
Hertha were relegated from the Bundesliga in 2023 — Maza scored in the club’s last game in the division — and he became one of the team’s key attacking threats in the second division where the 1.8-meter right-footed player scored five goals and set up five more this season.
“Maza is currently one of the most interesting young attacking players,” Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said. “Ibrahim suits us and our style of football. He has outstanding technical skills, can dribble past defenders, and he has an eye for his teammates, which he knows how to use brilliantly.”
Maza played for Germany Under-18s through Under-20s before opting to represent Algeria. He turned down previous offers to leave Hertha and extended his contract with the club in August last year to 2027, but Hertha’s financial difficulties meant he was bound to leave sooner rather than later.
“As a Berliner, the greatest thing for me was to become a professional player at Hertha BSC and to be able to wear the (Hertha) flag on my chest in Olympiastadion,” Maza said in a Hertha statement. “I’m grateful now that the club are giving me the chance to take the next step at the highest level in Leverkusen.”
Hertha said they will give Maza “a fitting farewell” before he leaves. There are still three rounds of the second division remaining and Hertha have two games at home.
Bayer Leverkusen sign highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin
https://arab.news/8dhr5
Bayer Leverkusen sign highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin
- The 19-year-old Maza, an attacking midfielder, signed a contract through June 2030
- “Maza is currently one of the most interesting young attacking players,” Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said
DXB Live and Arabian Warrior launch new Dubai urban obstacle racing series
- First edition of ‘The Urbanator’ is set to kick off in March 2026
DUBAI: DXB Live, the integrated event management and experiential agency of Dubai World Trade Centre, has signed an agreement with Arabian Warrior to launch “The Urbanator,” a groundbreaking urban obstacle racing series that will take place against the backdrop of the city’s skyline, districts, and public spaces in March of next year.
Debuting during the Holy Month of Ramadan, The Urbanator will introduce a reimagined obstacle racing format that shifts the sport from rugged outdoor terrains into the vibrant heart of the city, combining sport, culture, and urban exploration.
Participants will take on challenges across architectural landmarks, rooftop climbs, street-level runs, and giant elevated obstacles designed to highlight Dubai’s dynamic urban identity.
The series will feature both daytime and nighttime races, including races aligned with iftar timings, ensuring wide community participation from elite athletes to families, students, corporate teams, and first-time runners. Race routes will stretch approximately 5 km across key districts.
Abdulrahman Abu Al-Shawareb, president of the UAE Obstacle Sports Federation, said: “We congratulate this strategic partnership between DXB Live and Arabian Warrior, which represents a significant step forward in the development of obstacle racing in the UAE. ‘The Urbanator’ series introduces an innovative concept that redefines the sport by bringing it into the heart of the city, reflecting the UAE’s spirit of challenge, innovation, and creating new community experiences.
“The federation is committed to building a comprehensive ecosystem that elevates this sport to world-class standards,” he added. “We will continue to support initiatives that empower local talent, expand participation across the community, and strengthen the UAE’s position as a regional and global leader in urban obstacle racing.”
Khalid Al-Hammadi, executive vice president, DXB Live, said: “We are pleased to enter this partnership with Arabian Warrior, which marks an important milestone in expanding our portfolio of innovative sports events and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for urban obstacle racing. Bringing this new race format into the heart of the city aligns with our vision to develop inclusive sports experiences that blend entertainment, fitness, and the spirit of challenge, while contributing to Dubai’s leadership in hosting world-class sporting events.”
Nick Cartwright, CEO, Arabian Warrior, said he was “proud” to collaborate with DXB LIVE to launch this concept in Dubai.
“Through this partnership, we aim to deliver an unprecedented sports experience that combines physical challenge with urban exploration,” he said. “We are confident that this initiative will contribute to strengthening the UAE’s position as a leader in modern challenge-based sports.”
The partnership follows the establishment of the UAE Obstacle Sports Federation, a key milestone in supporting the growth of obstacle racing and elevating its standards nationwide.
DXB Live and Arabian Warrior aim to launch the first race in March 2026, followed by a wider expansion of events across the UAE and beyond.
