Atlético Madrid Pursue Bayer Leverkusen's Maza Amid High Stakes
Atlético Madrid are back on the trail of a familiar name – and this time the stakes are far higher.
Diego Simeone has turned again to Bayer Leverkusen’s 20-year-old Algerian playmaker Maza as he looks to refresh and sharpen his midfield. The Spanish club have already made their move, contacting Leverkusen’s hierarchy to register formal interest, according to Bulinews.
The answer from Germany? A firm no.
From €12m punt to €70m powerhouse
Leverkusen picked Maza up from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2025 for around €12 million, a smart investment in a gifted but still raw talent. That figure now looks like a bargain. His value has surged to an estimated €70 million, fuelled by his rapid development and long-term security: his current deal runs until June 2030.
That contract length gives Leverkusen enormous leverage. They do not need to sell. They do not want to sell. Anyone trying to change their mind will have to pay a premium.
Atlético know this story well. As beIN Sports journalist Hafid Derradji has revealed, the Spanish side already tried to land Maza while he was still at Hertha, putting a €35 million offer on the table. Hertha rejected it outright. Atlético walked away, but they never stopped watching.
Scintillating form, growing queue
Their persistence makes sense. Maza has exploded this season, not just as a prospect, but as a guaranteed starter in a Leverkusen side with serious ambitions.
He has already produced one goal and two assists from just four starts, missing only the club’s Europa League opener through illness. His numbers tell part of the story; his influence tells the rest. He dictates play, links lines, and carries the authority of a player far older than 20.
That kind of form does not go unnoticed. Europe’s elite are already circling.
Atlético are not alone. Arsenal and Manchester City both pushed hard over the summer, exploring a deal and showing what was described as “concrete” interest. Leverkusen shut the door. The message then was blunt: Maza is not for sale.
Leverkusen move to lock the door
Now, with Atlético back at the table and Premier League power lurking in the background, Leverkusen have shifted from resisting to reinforcing.
Bild report that the club have started work on a new contract designed to tie Maza down beyond 2030. Initial talks with his representatives began last week. No agreement yet, but the intent is clear: make it as hard as possible – financially and contractually – for anyone to prise him away.
Central to the proposal is a major pay rise. Maza currently earns around €3 million per season. Leverkusen are ready to significantly improve that figure, rewarding his impact and sending a message to potential suitors that they will not be bullied out of their best talent.
The battle lines are drawn. Atlético have their target. Arsenal and City are watching. Leverkusen, though, hold the cards – and they look determined to keep their young Algerian conductor at the heart of their project for years to come.
