Erik ten Hag will have Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken at his disposal at Bayer Leverkusen next season. The goalkeeper will transfer from English side Brentford for around 10 million euros.
This transfer sees the 31-year-old Flekken return to Germany, where he previously impressed at SC Freiburg between 2018 and 2023. This caught the eye of then national coach Louis van Gaal. He spoke at a press conference about “one Mark Flekken” and later gave him his debut.
Flekken is currently also part of the squad of national coach Ronald Koeman and has a good chance of playing time in the upcoming international period. First goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is struggling with physical complaints.
In the past two years, Flekken played 77 games in England. “A new and special step in my career,” says the eight-time Dutch international on the club website. “The many matches against world-class players in England have helped me further to become the goalkeeper I am now.”
“The fact that I can use my qualities for a German top club with ambitious national and European ambitions makes me very happy. I love the Bundesliga and of course I also look forward to playing in the Champions League with the ‘Werkself’.”
Flekken is Bayer Leverkusen’s first summer signing since the arrival of Ten Hag, who was presented at the number two of the past Bundesliga season early last week. The trainer signed a contract until the summer of 2027. Flekken’s contract runs until mid-2028.