Bayer Leverkusen's German-American teenager Montrell Culbreath signs professional contract
Bayer Leverkusen have signed Montrell Culbreath to his first professional contract, with the 18-year-old putting pen to paper on a deal through to 30 June 2030.
Culbreath joined Leverkusen from Kaiserslautern's U17s in summer 2023, initially playing for the Rhineland club's U17s, before making the step up to the U19s 12 months later.
Whilst still impressing in youth competitions such as the UEFA Youth League, the German-American winger earned a call-up to the Leverkusen first team for the Bundesliga meeting with RB Leipzig on 20 December 2025, marking his professional debut with a goal from the bench in a 3-1 win. He was also given his first taste of UEFA Champions League football at the start of 2026, coming on as a late substitute in a 2-0 loss at Olympiacos.
"This professional contract fulfils a lifelong dream for me," said Culbreath. "To be able to prove myself at a Champions League club like Bayer 04 for such a long period of time is a dream come true. I'll try to learn as much as I can, keep improving and vindicate the trust placed in me."
Culbreath is Leverkusen's fourth youngest Bundesliga goalscorer after Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz and Julian Brandt, and has also registered 22 goal involvements across 52 games for Bayer's various youth teams.
"Montrell is currently one of the top performers in our U19 team," said Leverkusen football director Kim Falkenberg. "We're confident that he will continue on his path to the professional squad and become a senior player we can call one of our own."
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes added: "Montrell has developed brilliantly in our youth teams over the past few years and has also demonstrated his potential in a number of training sessions with the senior squad."
Watch: Relive Montrell Culbreath's first Bundesliga goal
Although born in Landstuhl, Germany and capped by his country of birth at U16s-19s level, Culbreath is also eligible to represent the USA through his parents. He has already won three US youth caps, playing for the U16s in November 2022.
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