Bernd Leno

Bernd Leno

Leno with Germany in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Bernd Leno
Date of birth	(1992-03-04) 4 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) [1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Fulham
Number	1
Youth career
1998–2003	SV Germania Bietigheim
2003–2009	VfB Stuttgart
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2011	VfB Stuttgart II	57	(0)
2011–2018	Bayer Leverkusen	233	(0)
2018–2022	Arsenal	101	(0)
2022–	Fulham	89	(0)
International career
2008–2009	Germany U17	4	(0)
2009–2010	Germany U18	5	(0)
2010–2011	Germany U19	5	(0)
2012–2015	Germany U21	14	(0)
2016–2021	Germany	9	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Germany FIFA Confederations Cup Winner 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Winner 2009
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:31, 8 December 2024 (UTC)

Bernd Leno (born 4 March 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Fulham.

Early and personal life

Bernd Leno ^[2] was born on 4 March 1992 ^[3] in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Baden-Württemberg. ^[4] His father is Russian-German. ^[5]

Leno married his long-time girlfriend, Sophie Christin, on 11 August 2020. ^[6]

Club career

VfB Stuttgart

Having progressed through the youth set up at VfB Stuttgart, in May 2011, Leno extended his contract until June 2014. By this time he was a regular goalkeeper in the VfB Stuttgart II reserve team who played in the 3. Liga. ^{[7] [8]}

Bayer Leverkusen

Leno with Bayer Leverkusen in 2014

On 10 August 2011, he was loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen until 31 December 2011. ^{[9] [10]} Four days later, Leno made his Bundesliga debut against Werder Bremen. He became, after Dirk Krüssenberg and Heribert Macherey, the third goalkeeper in Bundesliga history to keep a clean sheet in his first three Bundesliga appearances. ^[11] When he played on 13 September 2011, at the age of 19 years and 193 days, against Chelsea in the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage he became the youngest German goalkeeper to ever to play in a Champions League match. ^{[12] [13]}

The transfer was made permanent on 30 November 2011, when Leno received a deal that kept him with Bayer until 2017. ^{[14] [15]} Leno became a regular in the first team and after a string of impressive performances, on 8 November 2013, he signed an improved contract to keep him at the club until 2018. ^[16] He made his 300th appearance for Leverkusen on 14 April 2018 in a 4–1 league win over Eintracht Frankfurt. ^[17]

Arsenal

On 19 June 2018, Premier League club Arsenal announced that Leno had signed a five-year contract for a fee of £22.5 million, while pending 'the completion of regulatory processes'. ^{[18] [19]}

Leno made his debut for Arsenal in the 4–2 victory over Vorskla Poltava in the Europa League. ^[20] Leno made his Premier League debut in the 2–0 home victory over Watford, replacing regular goalkeeper Petr Čech, who picked up an injury in the first-half. His performance was praised by head-coach Unai Emery, who said "He is working very well with the goalkeeping coaches. I spoke with him and said the most important thing is when the team needs him to help us, to be prepared. He did that on Wednesday and today also – and against Vorskla. We have three very good goalkeepers. Petr Čech, his performances for us have been very important and his experience. Leno can learn by staying near with Petr Čech every day. I am very happy with him. He has waited for his moment and it's arriving." ^{[21] [22]}

Leno was the runner up of the Arsenal Player of the Season award in the 2019–20 season, commanding 16 per cent of the final vote. ^[23] On 25 February 2021, he played his 100th match for Arsenal in all competitions in a 3–2 win over Benfica in the Europa League round of 32. ^[24]

Leno was relegated to a backup in the 2021–22 season after the signing of Aaron Ramsdale, who was selected as the starting goalkeeper. ^[25]

Fulham

On 2 August 2022, Leno signed for newly promoted Premier club Fulham on a three-year contract with an option to extend by a further year, for a reported £8 million fee. ^{[26] [27]} He made his debut on 20 August in the 3–2 win against West London rivals Brentford. ^[28] His first clean sheet came in Fulham's 3–0 win against Aston Villa on 20 October. ^[29] The result led to Steven Gerrard's dismissal as Villa manager. ^[30]

On 13 December 2023, Leno signed a new contract with Fulham until the summer of 2027, with a club option to extend it for a further season. ^[31]

International career

Leno received his first call up to the German senior squad in October 2015 for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and Georgia. ^[32] He debuted in a friendly match against Slovakia on 29 May 2016. ^[33] Leno was also included in his nation's squad for the final tournament the following summer. ^[34]

Leno was selected for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. ^[35] He played one game of the tournament, against Australia. ^[36] He was named in Germany's provisional squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but was not selected for the final 23-man squad. ^[37] On 19 May 2021, he was selected to the squad for the UEFA Euro 2020. ^[38]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 5 December 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [a]		League cup [b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
VfB Stuttgart II	2009–10 [39]	3. Liga	17	0	—		—		—		17	0
	2010–11 [40]	3. Liga	37	0	—		—		—		37	0
	2011–12 [41]	3. Liga	3	0	—		—		—		3	0
	Total		57	0	—		—		—		57	0
Bayer Leverkusen	2011–12 [41]	Bundesliga	33	0	—		—		8 [c]	0	41	0
	2012–13 [42]	Bundesliga	32	0	2	0	—		6 [d]	0	40	0
	2013–14 [43]	Bundesliga	34	0	4	0	—		8 [c]	0	46	0
	2014–15 [44]	Bundesliga	34	0	4	0	—		10 [c]	0	48	0
	2015–16 [45]	Bundesliga	33	0	4	0	—		12 [e]	0	49	0
	2016–17 [46]	Bundesliga	34	0	1	0	—		7 [c]	0	42	0
	2017–18 [47]	Bundesliga	33	0	5	0	—		—		38	0
	Total		233	0	20	0	—		51	0	304	0
Arsenal	2018–19 [48]	Premier League	32	0	0	0	1	0	3 [d]	0	36	0
	2019–20 [49]	Premier League	30	0	0	0	0	0	2 [d]	0	32	0
	2020–21 [50]	Premier League	35	0	2	0	2	0	10 [d]	0	49	0
	2021–22 [51]	Premier League	4	0	1	0	3	0	—		8	0
	Total		101	0	3	0	6	0	15	0	125	0
Fulham	2022–23 [52]	Premier League	36	0	1	0	0	0	—		37	0
	2023–24 [53]	Premier League	38	0	0	0	3	0	—		41	0
	2024–25 [54]	Premier League	14	0	0	0	0	0	—		14	0
	Total		88	0	1	0	3	0	—		92	0
Career total			479	0	24	0	9	0	66	0	578	0

1. Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
5. Eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, four in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 2 September 2021 ^[36]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Germany	2016	3	0
	2017	3	0
	2020	2	0
	2021	1	0
Total		9	0

Honours

Arsenal

• FA Community Shield: 2020 ^[55]
• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2018–19 ^[56]

Germany U17

• UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2009 ^[57]

Germany

• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2017 ^[58]

References

1. "Bernd Leno: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
2. "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of Players: Germany" (PDF). FIFA. 2 July 2017. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2017.
3. "Bernd Leno: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
4. "B. Leno: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
5. Arens, Phillip (1 September 2011). "Geheimnisse des Bayer-Torwarts: "Lehmann gab mir Tipps fürs Leben!"". Bild (in German). Retrieved 19 June 2018.
6. "Bernd Leno wife - Sophie Christin". ohmyfootball.com. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
7. "Changes afoot". VfB Stuttgart. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
8. "Bernd Leno". Fulham FC. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
9. "Leno on loan to Leverkusen". VfB Stuttgart. 10 August 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
10. "Bayer 04 sign Stuttgart keeper Leno on loan". Bayer 04 Leverkusen. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
11. "Leno unbezwingbar" [Leno invincible] (in German). Bundesliga. 27 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
12. "Bernd Leno: Arsenal's new goalkeeper takes inspiration from Iker Casillas". ESPN. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
13. "5 things you probably didn't know about Arsenal's new signing Bernd Leno". Sportskeeda. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
14. "Bernd Leno to sign for Bayer 04". VfB Stuttgart. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
15. "Bayer 04 sign Bernd Leno". Bayer 04 Leverkusen. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
16. "Leno signs new Leverkusen contract". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
17. "Volland scores hat-trick as impressive Leverkusen overcome top-four rivals Frankfurt". Bundesliga. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
18. "Bernd Leno to join Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
19. "Arsenal confirm deal to sign goalkeeper Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
20. "Arsenal 4–2 Vorskla Poltava: Gunners cruise to Europa League win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
21. "Arsenal 2-0 Watford: 'We have a winning mentality under Unai Emery'". BBC Sport. 29 September 2018.
22. "Unai Emery updates on Petr Cech injury and rates Bernd Leno's league debut". Metro Sport. 29 September 2018.
23. "Arsenal Player of the Season: In second place..." www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
24. "Arsenal 3–2 Benfica". BBC Sport. 25 February 2021.
25. Ridley, Nathan (8 April 2022). "Bernd Leno admits he was "bitter" after being shoved aside at Arsenal by Mikel Arteta". Mirror. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
26. "Bernd Leno joins Fulham". Arsenal. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
27. "Leno joins Fulham". Fulham. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
28. Mann, Mantej (20 August 2022). "Mitrovic heads late Fulham winner against Brentford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
29. "Fulham first home clean sheet thrills Silva". BBC Sport. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
30. Howarth, Matthew (20 September 2022). "Fulham beat Villa in Gerrard's final game". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
31. "Leno's New Deal". Fulham F.C. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
32. "Joachim Low adds Bernd Leno to squad for Euro 2016 double-header". football.co.uk. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
33. "Slovakia stun green Germany in storm-hit friendly". BeIN Sports . 29 May 2016.
34. "Meet Germany's 23-man squad for Euro 2016". Deutsche Welle. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
35. "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
36. "Bernd Leno: Internationals". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
37. "Finaler WM-Kader: Löw streicht Leno, Tah, Sané und Petersen" [Final World Cup squad: Löw strikes Leno, Tah, Sané and Petersen] (in German). German Football Association. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
38. "EM-Kader offiziell: Löw beruft Müller, Hummels und Volland". Kicker (in German). 19 May 2021.
39. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2009/10" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2009/10]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
40. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2010/11" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2010/11]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
41. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2011/12" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2011/12]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
42. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2012/13" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2012/13]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
43. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2013/14" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2013/14]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
44. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2014/15" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2014/15]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
45. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2015/16" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2015/16]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
46. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2016/17" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2016/17]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
47. "Bernd Leno: Spiele: Verein: 2017/18" [Bernd Leno: Games: Club: 2017/18]. Kicker (in German). Olympia-Verlag. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
48. "Games played by Bernd Leno in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
49. "Games played by Bernd Leno in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
50. "Games played by Bernd Leno in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
51. "Games played by Bernd Leno in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
52. "Games played by Bernd Leno in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
53. "Games played by Bernd Leno in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
54. "Games played by Bernd Leno in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
55. Sanders, Emma (29 August 2020). "Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
56. Bevan, Chris (29 May 2019). "Chelsea 4–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
57. "Final: Netherlands 1–2 Germany: Line-ups". UEFA. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
58. "Match report: Chile – Germany". FIFA. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019.

External links

• Profile at the Fulham F.C. website
• Bernd Leno at DFB (also available in German )
• Bernd Leno – UEFA competition record ( archive )