Jonathan Tah bid an emotional farewell to Bayer Leverkusen, the club that elevated him to the top of international football. He announced he would not renew his contract, which expires on June 30. The 29-year-old German national team defender provided intriguing hints about his future in an interview with Bild.

Tah, who has been linked with several top clubs including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Newcastle in recent months, warned he would not delay his decision much longer. He openly stated he would “soon decide on his new club for the next season.”

The player emphasized he does not want to negotiate with clubs interested in signing him as a free agent: “I don’t want to set a date. The reality is this won’t take another two months.”

When directly asked about interest from Bayern, Barcelona, and Real Madrid, he implicitly expressed his desire to experience football outside Germany: “When you go somewhere where you might not speak the language, it’s a very challenging experience. This is especially true for my position, where I naturally have to play as part of a team. It requires a lot of engagement and commitment. That’s why going abroad is attractive to me.”

Bild also asked Tah about Barcelona’s recent financial struggles in registering players due to La Liga regulations, but he declined to answer: “I have no influence on this. I can only make my own decision, and the rest is up to others.”

The summer of 2024 had strongly linked him to Bayern Munich, and Tah admitted he seriously considered the option: “It was a difficult period because I felt nothing else mattered. There was a lot of talk, and yet I was still at Bayer.”

“My conversation with Xabi Alonso was very positive. I told him: I’m training here, the games have started, don’t worry. And he said: I’m counting on you and know I can trust you. The club handled it the same way. It was tough, but we found our way.”

Despite the initial interest, Tah’s performance this season has been among the best at Leverkusen. He commented: “I appreciate the praise. I didn’t know how things would turn out, but I knew I was ready. It’s about my mindset. I don’t play the victim; I accept the situation as it is. Everything is great as it is now. If I were 23, it would have been much harder to manage and stay this focused.”

Tah’s career path has made him a more stable player: “There have been many ups and downs, which are part of the journey. The period when I wasn’t playing much was decisive for me: my second season under Peter Bosz. In January 2020, Edmond Tapsoba, now one of my best friends, joined the team and always played in my position. At the time, I didn’t understand, but it helped me a lot later.”

This tough period lasted about four or five months. I played 25 league games that season, but that phase was much harder. Still, I didn’t give up. I always told myself: I’ll return to the field, start over, and be ready. I learned how much attitude matters. You can play the victim and say: The coach is stupid. Or you can accept these challenges and face them in the most positive way possible. This difficult phase inspired me to work harder for myself, be more professional, and push myself further.”

His departure from Bayer Leverkusen confirms his desire to step out of his comfort zone. Tah added: “For me, it’s about leaving my comfort zone to grow more. I love growing. I love progressing, gaining new experiences in a fresh environment. I truly believe I can achieve much more. With the talent I have, I want to be the best player I can be. That’s my goal.”