Erik ten Hag is also likely to lose Lukas Hradecky. The Finnish goalkeeper wants to join AS Monaco, which means almost the entire spine of last season’s team is set to leave.
Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable 2023/24 campaign, which saw them lift the Bundesliga title and reach the Europa League final, is quickly becoming a distant memory as the club faces a dramatic dismantling of its core squad. The latest potential exit is that of captain and long-time goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, who appears to be on the verge of a move to AS Monaco.
According to Bild, Hradecky’s father who also serves as his agent was present at Leverkusen’s headquarters over the weekend to hold talks with sporting director Simon Rolfes. The meeting focused on the Finnish goalkeeper’s future amid growing interest from Ligue 1. While Leverkusen have reportedly offered the 35-year-old a contract extension in hopes of retaining his leadership and experience between the posts, the situation has shifted considerably in recent weeks. All signs now point toward an imminent departure.
The key turning point in the saga was the club’s decision to sign Dutch international Mark Flekken from Brentford earlier this summer. Flekken’s arrival was a clear signal that manager Xabi Alonso and the club’s hierarchy are planning for the future with a younger first-choice goalkeeper. While Hradecky has handled the competition professionally, it's understood that he does not wish to spend the twilight of his career on the bench, especially after playing a central role in Leverkusen’s historic title-winning season.
AS Monaco have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature, offering Hradecky the chance to remain in a top-five European league while returning to a starting role. The French club have been in the market for an experienced goalkeeper following recent instability in their squad, and the Finnish international’s profile fits perfectly with their current ambitions: leadership, reliability, and top-level experience.
Moreover, lifestyle considerations are also playing a role. The Hradecky family is reportedly enthusiastic about the idea of relocating to the French Riviera. The allure of Monaco’s luxurious and temperate surroundings, combined with the opportunity for a prominent role in a club looking to re-establish itself in European competitions, has tilted the scales in favour of a move. Sources close to the player suggest that Hradecky has now informed Leverkusen of his desire to leave.
Negotiations between the clubs are ongoing. AS Monaco initially submitted a bid in the region of one million euros, but that has since been doubled in an attempt to push the deal over the line. Leverkusen, however, are holding firm. The German champions are demanding closer to four million euros to release their veteran goalkeeper, who is still under contract until 2028. Given Hradecky’s stature within the squad and his importance to the team’s recent success, Leverkusen are reluctant to let him go for a fee they consider to be below market value even if he is nearing the end of his prime.
The potential departure of Hradecky would mark the latest in a series of major exits that have left Leverkusen fans concerned about what comes next. Already this summer, central defender Jonathan Tah has joined Bayern Munich in a high-profile move that further strengthens the German champions. Midfield enforcer and vice-captain Granit Xhaka shocked many by choosing to join Sunderland, newly promoted to the Premier League, in what he described as a “new challenge” late in his career. And most recently, star playmaker Florian Wirtz completed a blockbuster transfer to Liverpool, where he is expected to take on a central role in Arne Slot’s restructured attack.
Collectively, those departures represent the spine of Xabi Alonso’s title-winning squad goalkeeper, centre-back, holding midfielder, and creative fulcrum all gone within a matter of weeks. While Leverkusen have made some moves to reinforce the squad, including the arrivals of Flekken and teenage sensation Noah Darvich from Barcelona, the scale of the transition is significant. The club may still have Alonso at the helm, but there is growing pressure to ensure that last season’s success was not a one-off.
Hradecky, who joined Leverkusen in 2018 from Eintracht Frankfurt, has been a consistent and calming presence through multiple managerial regimes. He has captained the team through highs and lows and was instrumental in guiding the club through last season’s unbeaten domestic campaign. His leadership, both on and off the pitch, has been praised by teammates, coaches, and fans alike.
If the deal goes through, Hradecky would become one of the most high-profile signings for AS Monaco this summer and would bring a level of experience and professionalism that the French side has been lacking in recent years. For Leverkusen, however, it would be the end of an era the departure of the man who has worn the captain’s armband through one of the club’s most iconic seasons.
As talks continue, the deal could be finalised in the coming days. If so, Hradecky’s move would not only be a personal decision driven by opportunity and family life, but it would also serve as the latest chapter in the ongoing reshaping of Bayer Leverkusen’s post-title identity.
