Bayer Leverkusen has signed United States international Malik Tillman from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven for a club-record transfer fee, the Bundesliga side announced Saturday.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder signed a contract with Leverkusen through June 2030. According to German sports magazine Kicker, the club is paying PSV a fixed sum of €35 million ($41 million), making Tillman the most expensive incoming player in Leverkusen’s history.
“We’ve gained another strong and very dangerous attacking player,” said Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes. “He can play in both the number 10 and the number 8 positions in midfield. Malik is an absolute top signing for us.”
Born in Nuremberg, Germany, to a German mother and an American father, Tillman progressed through the youth ranks at Bayern Munich after moving from Greuther Fürth in 2015. He made only seven senior appearances for Bayern before joining Scottish side Rangers on loan in the 2022–23 season.
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The following year, Tillman joined PSV Eindhoven on loan with an option to buy. PSV later activated that clause, making the transfer permanent. He scored 16 goals and assisted five more in 34 competitive appearances last season, playing a key role in PSV’s Eredivisie title-winning campaign.
Leverkusen is undergoing a major squad rebuild this summer following the departure of star midfielder Florian Wirtz to Liverpool for a Bundesliga-record fee. Head coach Xabi Alonso also left for Real Madrid, while captain Jonathan Tah joined Bayern Munich and Jeremie Frimpong also signed with Liverpool.
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has taken over as head coach, with Leverkusen investing in a number of promising young players.
On Friday, the club announced the signing of 18-year-old Cameroonian forward Christian Kofane from Spanish side Albacete. Other new arrivals include English defender Jarell Quansah from Liverpool, Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken from Brentford, French youth international Axel Tape from Paris Saint-Germain, and attacking midfielder Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin.