Bernd Leno German footballer of Russian origin, goalkeeper Date of Birth: 04.03.1992 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Career
2. Professional Debut and Success with Bayer Leverkusen
3. International Recognition and Premier League Transfer
4. Career at Arsenal
5. National Team
6. Personal Life

Early Life and Career

Bernd Leno, a German professional footballer, was born on March 4, 1992, in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, to Russian-German parents Viktor and Rosa. He began his football career at age six with local club Germania, before joining the renowned Stuttgart academy two years later. As part of Stuttgart's youth team, Leno won the Swabian German Championship. At age 16, he was promoted to Stuttgart's reserve team, competing in Germany's third tier league.

Professional Debut and Success with Bayer Leverkusen

After signing a professional contract with Stuttgart, Leno was included on the Bundesliga roster as a third-choice goalkeeper. While he did not make any first-team appearances for Stuttgart, he became a regular starter for the club's reserve team. During the 2010/11 season, he joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan, tasked with replacing René Adler, who had suffered a concussion.

Debuting for Leverkusen on August 14, 2011, against Werder Bremen, Leno recorded a clean sheet, earning praise from Kicker magazine. He kept another three clean sheets in his debut season, conceding his first goal on September 9 against Augsburg. At just 19 years and 193 days old, Leno made history by facing Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League, becoming the youngest German goalkeeper to play in the competition.

Following Adler's delayed return from injury, Leverkusen signed Leno permanently on January 1, 2012. With Adler's departure to Hamburger SV, Leno became the undisputed number one at Leverkusen, solidifying his position in the starting lineup. He remained a regular for the club, making 32 appearances in the 2012/13 season and 34 the following year.

International Recognition and Premier League Transfer

Leno's performances for Leverkusen earned him widespread recognition and established him as a potential successor to Manuel Neuer for the German national team. He gained international acclaim for making a record-breaking 13 saves in a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich. In 2013, he signed a contract extension with Leverkusen until 2018.

However, Leno left Leverkusen in June 2018 to join Premier League club Arsenal. His transfer fee was £22.5 million, making him the most expensive goalkeeper signed by an English club at that time.

Career at Arsenal

Leno quickly established himself as Arsenal's regular goalkeeper, impressing with his reliable performances and strong shot-stopping abilities. In the 2020/21 season, he helped Arsenal win the FA Cup, his first major trophy. He made notable contributions to the team's success, including a crucial save in the final against Chelsea.

In the 2022/23 season, Leno found himself behind Aaron Ramsdale in the pecking order at Arsenal. However, he continued to play in domestic cup competitions and maintained his high level of performance.

National Team

Leno made his international debut for Germany in 2016, serving as a backup to Manuel Neuer. He was part of the German squad that won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017. Despite being consistently selected for the national team, he has seen limited playing time behind Neuer.

Personal Life

Leno is married to Sophie Christin, and they have a daughter named Luna Marie. He is known for his humble and approachable personality and his commitment to social causes.