Bayer Leverkusen complete transfer just hours after ruthless Erik ten Hag sacking

Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez from Al Qadsiah - despite sacking manager Erik ten Hag hours earlier.

Former United boss Ten Hag was relieved of his duties by the German club on Monday morning after just two Bundesliga games in charge.

Leverkusen lost 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim on the opening day of the season, before drawing 3-3 at Werder Bremen on Saturday.

The 2023/24 Bundesliga champions were 3-1 up but conceded two goals to 10-man Bremen in the final 15 minutes.

On Monday, after significant speculation over his future over the previous 24 hours, Leverkusen confirmed that they had parted company with Ten Hag.

Just five hours after that announcement, the club confirmed the signing of Fernandez on a five-year contract.

Image: Twitter/Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Leverkusen have paid Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah a fee of €30 million to sign the 22-year-old midfielder, plus add-ons, as per Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg.

A 10-per cent sell-on clause has also been included as part of the deal.

Why did Leverkusen sack Ten Hag?

The German club's decision to sack Ten Hag - despite uncertainty over his future - appears to have been a relatively sudden call.

Plettenberg reported on Sunday that there were no plans to sack the former Manchester United manager before the end of the summer transfer window, with Ten Hag asking for more time to oversee a rebuild at the club.

Leverkusen have lost several key players this summer, including Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz to Liverpool, Granit Xhaka to Sunderland and Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich.

But in the aftermath of their 3-3 draw at Bremen, captain Robert Andrich produced a brutal attack on his own team-mates, telling reporters: "We have too many people who are preoccupied with other things, too many who are only concerned with themselves, and that's what the game looked like. Everyone played for themselves."

The Guardian's Andy Brassell, meanwhile, described Leverkusen as being 'truly atrocious' during the Hoffenheim defeat and noted how key figures at the club, including sporting director Fernando Carro, had failed to publicly back Ten Hag despite having the opportunity to do so.

The Dutchman will now be looking for his third club in under 12 months after his November sacking from United - but whether he decides to take a lengthy break from the game after this debacle remains to be seen.