This is a list of notable footballers who have played for Bayer Leverkusen. Generally, this means players that have played a significant amount of first-class matches for the club. Other players who have played an important role for the club can be included, but the reason why they have been included should be added in the 'Notes' column.

For a list of all Bayer Leverkusen players, major or minor, with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Bayer Leverkusen players, and for the current squad see the main Bayer Leverkusen article.

Players are listed according to the date of their first team debut. Appearances and goals are for first-team competitive league matches only; wartime matches are excluded. Substitute appearances included.

Table

Player	Nationality	Position	Bayer Leverkusen career	Appearances	Goals	Notes
Zvonko Bego		Midfielder	1968-1969	17	1
Walter Posner		Defender	1975-1984	274	5
Theodor Rielander		Midfielder	1975-1978	44	2
Dieter Herzog		Midfielder	1976-1983	193	29
Jürgen Gelsdorf		Defender	1976-1986	296	26
Thomas Hörster		Defender	1977-1991	404	26
Stefan Beinlich		Midfielder	1997–2000	80	24
Thomas Brdarić		Forward	1999–2003	82	14
Marko Babić		Midfielder	2000–2007	144	13
Pascal Zuberbühler		Goalkeeper	2000-2001	14	0
Yıldıray Baştürk		Midfielder	2001–2004	73	8
Hans-Jörg Butt		Goalkeeper	2001-2007	191	7
Lúcio		Defender	2001-2004	92	15
Daniel Bierofka		Midfielder	2002–2005	78	12
Gonzalo Castro		Midfielder	2005–2015	220	18
Emerson		Midfielder	1997–2000	88	11
Markus Feldhoff		Forward	1995–1998	77	14
Andreas Fischer		Defender	1989–1994	151	13
Franco Foda		Defender	1990–1994	113	10
França		Forward	2002–2005	102	29
Paul Freier		Midfielder	2004–2008	111	17
Manuel Friedrich		Defender	2007–2013	147	11
Theofanis Gekas		Forward	2007–2010	50	13
Falko Götz		Forward	1984–1988	115	26
Pavel Hapal		Midfielder	1992–1995	86	13
Markus Happe		Defender	1991–1999	188	8
Dirk Heinen		Goalkeeper	1990–1999	107	0
Patrick Helmes		Forward	2008–2011	57	28
Jorginho		Defender	1989–1992	87	9
Juan		Defender	2002–2007	139	10
Michal Kadlec		Defender	2007–2013	128	8
Radosław Kałużny		Defender	2003–2004	12	0
Stefan Kießling		Forward	2006–2018	344	131
Ulf Kirsten		Forward	1990–2003	350	182
Niko Kovač		Midfielder	1996–1999	77	8
Robert Kovač		Defender	1996–2001	127	1
Martin Kree		Defender	1989–1994	156	22
Toni Kroos		Midfielder	2009–2010	43	10
Jacek Krzynówek		Midfielder	2004–2006	52	9
Hans-Peter Lehnhoff		Midfielder	1994–2000	139	11
Bernd Leno		Goalkeeper	2011–2018	233	0
Marek Leśniak		Forward	1988–1992	119	20
Ioan Lupescu		Midfielder	1990–1996	184	4
Adam Matysek		Goalkeeper	1998–2001	78	0
Josef Nehl		Midfielder	1992–1996	56	5
Oliver Neuville		Forward	1999–2004	165	42
Paulo Sérgio		Forward	1993–1997	121	47
Alois Reinhardt		Defender	1984–1991	156	1
Knut Reinhardt		Midfielder	1985–1991	118	5
Paulo Rink		Forward	1997–2001	88	29
Jürgen Röber		Forward	1982–1986	105	18
Wolfgang Rolff		Midfielder	1986–1989	99	9
Sidney Sam		Forward	2010–2014	92	24
Heiko Scholz		Defender	1992–1995	75	5
Christian Schreier		Forward	1984–1991	203	63
Bernd Schuster		Midfielder	1993–1996	59	8
Daniel Schwaab		Defender	2009–2013	96	0
Pirmin Schwegler		Midfielder	2006–2009	46	0
Erich Seckler		Defender	1987–1992	86	2
Andreas Thom		Forward	1990–1995	161	36
Tita		Forward	1987–1988	21	10
Arturo Vidal		Midfielder	2007–2011	117	15
Rüdiger Vollborn		Goalkeeper	1982–1999	401	0
Rudi Völler		Forward	1994–1996	62	26
Andriy Voronin		Forward	2004–2007	92	32
Jurica Vranješ		Midfielder	2000–2003	46	0
Herbert Waas		Forward	1982–1989	209	72
Helmut Winklhofer		Defender	1982–1985	90	5
Rudolf Wojtowicz		Defender	1982–1986	76	2
Christian Wörns		Defender	1991–1998	211	13
Zé Roberto		Midfielder	1998–2002	113	17

World Cup players

The following players have been selected by their country for the FIFA World Cup finals, while playing for Bayer Leverkusen.