A late training-ground calf injury forces the Ivorian international onto the sidelines, leaving coach Carles Martínez to reshuffle his defensive options.
Bayer Leverkusen will have to do without one of their summer arrivals for the coming weeks, with Guéla Doué sidelined by a muscle injury to his right calf.
The 23-year-old Ivorian international suffered the injury during Wednesday's final training session before Bayer 04's Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje. An MRI scan carried out on Wednesday afternoon confirmed the problem, with the club subsequently announcing that Doué will not be available to head coach Carles Martínez in the coming weeks.
The timing is particularly frustrating for a player who only joined Die Werkself at the end of the summer transfer window. Doué arrived from Racing Strasbourg after two seasons in Ligue 1, signing a contract with Bayer 04 through June 2031. The right-back had established himself as an important player in France and also represented Ivory Coast at the 2026 World Cup, featuring in four of his country's five matches.
Leverkusen had made Doué a priority addition for the right side of their defence.
Transfer reports put the initial fee at around €30 million, with the overall package potentially rising further through bonuses, underlining the importance attached to bringing him to the BayArena. He was also viewed as a versatile option, capable of operating at right-back as well as in central defence.
His arrival represented another significant step in a career that has moved quickly. Doué spent 13 years in the Rennes system before making his senior breakthrough and subsequently moving to Strasbourg in 2024. During his two seasons with the Racing side, he made 69 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing nine assists, while also taking on the captain's armband.
There had already been a glimpse of Doué in Leverkusen colours this season.
He came off the bench for 27 minutes in the 2-2 Bundesliga draw away to Augsburg on September 12, picking up a yellow card during his appearance.
Now, however, his first weeks in Leverkusen have been interrupted just as he was looking to establish himself in Martínez's plans.
For the coach, the injury creates another defensive question at a time when Leverkusen are balancing Bundesliga football with their European commitments. Doué's ability to provide both defensive cover and flexibility across the back line was part of his appeal, and his absence removes one of Martínez's newer options from the equation.
The club has not put a precise timeframe on his return beyond confirming that he will miss the coming weeks. That leaves Leverkusen waiting for the next stage of his rehabilitation while Martínez finds solutions elsewhere.
