Why Exequiel Palacios wants to leave Bayer Leverkusen?

Exequiel Palacios is set to return to Bayer Leverkusen’s training camp on Monday, but his future at the club remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the squad. The Argentine midfielder is expected to report back for duty, yet there is growing uncertainty over how long he will remain at the BayArena.

Palacios has made his desire to leave clear, with his agent already submitting a formal transfer request to the club. Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes recently confirmed that there is renewed interest in the 27-year-old midfielder, stating: “There is interest in Palacios again this year.” However, the clubs currently monitoring his situation are not yet the ones the player himself is targeting.

The World Cup winner’s ambition is to take the next step in his career by joining a European heavyweight, with the Premier League reportedly his preferred destination. From a sporting perspective, Palacios believes he still has the level to compete at the highest stage and wants to challenge for major trophies after playing a key role in Bayer’s historic 2023/24 campaign.

However, there could also be a financial factor influencing his decision.

According to BILD, Bayer Leverkusen reduced Palacios’ salary by 25 percent this season due to a clause included in his contract extension last autumn. The midfielder signed a new deal in October that keeps him tied to the club until 2030 and placed him among Leverkusen’s highest-paid players.

Under the agreement, Palacios can earn around €7 million gross per year, but that figure is linked to Champions League qualification. Because Bayer will only participate in the Europa League during the 2026/27 season, his salary has automatically been reduced.

The reported difference amounts to around €1.75 million annually, meaning Palacios’ expected earnings will drop from approximately €7 million to around €5.25 million per year. While such figures remain among the highest in football, the reduction is still significant for a player entering the prime years of his career.

Performance-based salary structures are common at Bayer Leverkusen, with the club including success-related clauses in player contracts. For some players, these incentives are directly connected to their base salary, while others receive bonuses linked to achievements such as Champions League qualification.

In Palacios’ case, the Champions League clause has now become a major talking point. After helping Leverkusen secure domestic success and reach the top level of European competition, missing out on Champions League football appears to have immediate consequences.

A departure, however, would only happen if the right offer arrives. With Palacios under contract until 2030, Bayer Leverkusen are in a strong negotiating position and would likely demand a transfer fee exceeding €40 million for one of Argentina’s most important midfielders.

Interestingly, Leverkusen could soon add another member of Argentina’s World Cup squad to their ranks. The club is reportedly close to completing the signing of defender Facundo Medina from Olympique Marseille for around €20 million. The arrival of another Argentine international could help maintain Palacios’ connection with the squad, although whether it will influence his decision remains uncertain.

For now, Palacios’ return to training will be closely watched. The midfielder’s future may depend not only on finding the right sporting challenge, but also on whether Bayer Leverkusen can convince him that his next chapter should continue in Germany.