Following a breakout season and a Kopa Trophy nomination, the German club is fast-tracking a lucrative extension to secure the Algerian playmaker’s long-term future at the BayArena.
Bayer Leverkusen are already preparing to reward Ibrahim Maza for his rapid rise, with the club opening talks over a new and improved contract for the 20-year-old.
Maza's current agreement does not expire until 2030, but Leverkusen are understood to want to extend it further while significantly increasing his salary. According to Sport BILD, the first conversation between the club and the Algerian international's representatives took place last week. The move comes after a year in which Maza has gone from a promising newcomer to an increasingly important member of the Leverkusen squad.
The numbers help explain the urgency.
Maza made 44 appearances in all competitions during his first season at Leverkusen, scoring five goals and providing seven assists. He was not simply used as a late substitute or developmental option either. The attacking midfielder accumulated significant minutes and became increasingly trusted as the season progressed.
His importance has continued to grow under Carles Martínez.
The Spanish coach has identified Maza primarily as a No. 10, but the Algerian has already demonstrated that he can influence games from several positions. Injuries and absences within the squad have seen him used on both wings at the beginning of this season, and he has responded with a goal and an assist in his first three Bundesliga appearances. He also provided an assist in the DFB-Pokal.
That versatility is one of the reasons Maza has become such an attractive asset for Leverkusen. He can operate between the lines as a creative midfielder, move into wider areas, and still offer the technical quality to combine in the final third. His ability to adapt without losing his influence has allowed Martínez to use him in different ways without taking him out of the game.
There is also growing recognition outside Leverkusen.
Maza was named last week among the ten nominees for the 2026 Kopa Trophy, the Ballon d'Or award recognising the world's best young player. The shortlist includes some of the biggest young names in European football, with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal among them. Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes specifically highlighted the significance of Maza's nomination.
It is another indication of how quickly his reputation has developed since arriving from Hertha BSC.
Die Werkself paid a reported €12 million for Maza in the summer of 2025, securing him on a contract running until 2030. At the time, Rolfes described him as one of the most interesting young attacking players available and pointed to his technical ability, dribbling, and vision as key reasons for the move.
The club's decision to revisit his contract so soon is therefore less about correcting a mistake and more about adjusting an agreement that no longer reflects his position.
Maza is reportedly earning less than €3 million per season, placing him in the lower third of the Leverkusen squad. A significant pay rise would bring his financial standing closer to his sporting importance.
Leverkusen also have another reason to act before the market dictates the terms.
Maza attracted interest from several major clubs during the summer, including Atlético Madrid and clubs from the Premier League. Barcelona were also reported to have monitored the situation. No move materialised, but the level of interest was enough to demonstrate that Leverkusen are not the only club aware of his potential.
For now, there is no suggestion that Leverkusen are considering selling.
Quite the opposite.
The club's intention appears to be to secure Maza beyond his existing 2030 commitment and give him a contract that reflects what he has become since arriving from Berlin. For a player who has already made 44 appearances in his first season and is now starting the next campaign as one of Martínez's trusted attacking options, the change is understandable.
The interesting part is how quickly it has happened.
Maza joined Leverkusen as a talented 19-year-old with considerable potential. Just over a year later, he is an Algeria international, a regular contributor for a Champions League-level club and a Kopa Trophy nominee.
Now Leverkusen want his contract to tell the same story.
