bundesliga

Jonathan Tah: Bayer Leverkusen have "strengthened"

25.07.2019

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah says he feels the club has "strengthened" over the summer – and coming from a man standing at 6'4" and weighing 215 pounds who knows a thing or two about flexing muscle, you should probably sit up and take note.

The 23-year-old joined in Leverkusen's pre-season training this week after being granted an extended summer holiday following his exertions with Germany at the UEFA U21 European Championship in June.

"The holiday did me a power of good but in the last few days I’ve started to get the itch," he told the club's website. "It's great we’re getting started again. When you look on from a far at the boys training, it's a strange feeling."

Tah was a key member of Germany's side that finished as runners-up at the U21 European Championship this summer. - imago images / ULMER Pressebildagentur

Tah has found himself sitting alongside one of the club's summer signings in the changing room: Moussa Diaby. The young attacker, who joined from PSG, only speaks French and Tah is the only other Francophone in the Werkself squad, thanks to his Ivorian mother.

"It definitely helps him having someone who can speak to him in French. I translate and I'm happy to help him," said Tah, who has been impressed with Leverkusen's recruitment in the transfer window following the arrivals of Kerem Demirbay and Daley Sinkgraven.

"I've only heard good things about the new boys," he said. "We feel like we've strengthened."

That will be put to the test in upcoming friendlies against Heracles, Vitesse Arnhem and Valencia, before Leverkusen kick-off their 2019/20 Bundesliga season at home to promoted side Paderborn on Saturday 17 August.