Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 8y

Bernd Leno signs Bayer Leverkusen contract extension

Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno has signed a new contract until 2020, but teammate Karim Bellarabi is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a muscle injury 10 seconds into the 3-1 defeat of Hamburg on Saturday.

Leno, 24, had not made a Bundesliga appearance when he joined Leverkusen from Stuttgart in 2011 but has developed into one of the division's best performers in his position and is now Germany's third-choice goalkeeper.

"I feel at home here in Leverkusen," Leno, who had been linked with a switch to RB Leipzig earlier this year, told the club's official website, adding the "constant development" at the Bay-Arena convinced him to stay. "This club has set itself very ambitious targets and I share them too."

Bayer coach Roger Schmidt added: "He's a complete goalkeeper even if he has the potential to improve even further. When you can secure a key player like that then it's a good sign for the club and for us as a team."

Meanwhile, Leno's colleague for club and country Bellarabi is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn groin muscle during the opening exchanges of the win against Hamburg.

Bayer said on their official website that the winger would be out for "the next few weeks," but Bild reported Bellarabi could be out of action until the winter break in December.

"I will try everything to come back as soon as possible," Bellarabi said. "It's extremely bitter for me."

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