A fresh muscular setback has sidelined the Moroccan international just days after his long-awaited return, stalling his efforts to find rhythm following a record-breaking transfer to Leverkusen.
It was only ten minutes, but for Eliesse Ben Seghir, it represented an important step forward. The 21-year-old returned to the pitch in Bayer Leverkusen's 2-0 Europa League victory over NK Celje last Wednesday, coming on in the 80th minute after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The brief appearance had offered some encouragement. Ben Seghir had been absent since Leverkusen's first friendly of the season and was finally able to make his return after working his way back from injury.
But there was another setback just days later.
Ben Seghir was not included in Carles Martínez's squad for Die Werkself's Bundesliga meeting with RB Leipzig, a match the hosts won 2-0. His absence raised questions given that he had only recently returned to competitive action.
The timing will nevertheless be a concern for Leverkusen. Ben Seghir has struggled to find consistency since joining the club from AS Monaco in 2025 for a reported €32 million fee, with recurring injuries limiting his opportunities to establish himself.
His ten-minute appearance against Celje had therefore represented more than just a cameo. It was a chance for the attacking player to begin building rhythm again after a difficult period. Instead, another muscular issue has interrupted that progress.
The international break now provides some additional time for Ben Seghir to work on his recovery. Exactly how much training he will be able to complete during the break remains to be seen, with his return to full fitness likely to be managed carefully.
There is, however, more positive news elsewhere in the Leverkusen squad.
Nathan Tella is expected to return to team training on Tuesday, with the session scheduled for 11 a.m. and open to the public. The 27-year-old has also been dealing with recurring muscular problems in recent months and will be hoping that this latest return marks the beginning of a more consistent period.
For Ben Seghir, the priority is similar: getting back into regular training, avoiding another interruption, and finally putting together the sustained run of fitness that has so far been difficult to achieve at Leverkusen.
His ten minutes against Celje showed that the return had begun. The latest setback means he must now wait a little longer for the next step.
