Ibrahim Maza: Bayer Leverkusen and Algeria Profile
Ibrahim Maza is an Algeria international and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder whose rise has moved quickly from Berlin academy football to the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup. Born in Berlin on 24 November 2005, the right-footed attacking midfielder developed at Hertha BSC, chose to represent Algeria at senior level in 2024 and joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2025.
This profile focuses on the football record that can be checked: his development at Hertha, his first season with Bayer, his international choice, his role for Algeria and the qualities that shape his game. Unverified financial estimates are excluded because they do not explain his football development or performance.
Ibrahim Maza profile
- Full name: Ibrahim Maza
- Date of birth: 24 November 2005
- Place of birth: Berlin, Germany
- Nationality: Algeria international; born and developed in Germany
- Height: 1.80 metres
- Preferred foot: Right
- Primary roles: Attacking midfielder, advanced central midfielder, inside forward
- Current club: Bayer Leverkusen
- Squad number: 30
- International team: Algeria
Bayer Leverkusen’s official player information lists Maza at 1.80 metres and identifies him as a midfielder. The club announced that his contract runs to 30 June 2030. Those are club-published details, not estimates from an unofficial player database.
Who is Ibrahim Maza?
Maza is a creative midfielder who is most comfortable receiving between midfield and defence, turning toward goal and carrying the ball into a dangerous area. He can begin from a central number 10 position, move inside from a flank or operate as an attacking number 8. His value is not limited to the final pass. He helps a team move from controlled possession into an attack by beating the first opponent and linking with nearby forwards.
His story also connects two football cultures. He was born and raised in Berlin, represented Germany at several youth levels and later committed his senior international career to Algeria, his father’s country. Bayer’s interview with him records that his father is Algerian and his mother is Vietnamese. Maza has described cage and street football in Berlin as an important part of his technical education.
Early life and football education in Berlin
From Reinickendorfer Füchse to Hertha BSC
Maza played for Reinickendorfer Füchse before joining Hertha BSC’s academy in 2016. Hertha’s official account places that move when he was still a young academy player. The long period in one development system matters because his progression was not a sudden senior-level discovery. Coaches had years to build his tactical understanding alongside the close control and imagination that were already visible in his game.
Productive youth season
When Hertha announced his first professional contract in April 2023, the club reported 19 goal contributions in 25 under-19 matches during that season. He had also made five Regionalliga appearances and played eight times for Germany’s under-18 team, scoring three goals. Those numbers showed that his attacking output was beginning to transfer across age groups.
Hertha BSC first-team breakthrough
Bundesliga debut against Bayern
Maza made his Bundesliga debut away to Bayern Munich in April 2023. His first senior league goal followed in May at Wolfsburg. Hertha were in a difficult sporting period, but those appearances gave a teenage midfielder experience against top-level opponents before the club’s move into the 2. Bundesliga.
Growing responsibility in the 2. Bundesliga
Relegation changed the environment around him. Instead of being used only as a prospect, he gradually became a player expected to receive under pressure, advance attacks and create chances. Hertha gave him the number 10 shirt in 2024, a clear sign of his expanding role. That responsibility required more than highlight dribbles: he had to learn when to accelerate, when to keep the ball and how to contribute when opponents denied central space.
Hertha record before his transfer
Hertha’s official farewell recorded 48 competitive first-team appearances, nine goals and seven assists. This is the most useful club checkpoint because it covers competitive senior matches and was published when his transfer was confirmed. His time in Berlin established the platform for a move back to the Bundesliga rather than completing his development.
Transfer to Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen announced Maza’s signing from Hertha on 1 May 2025, with the move taking effect for the 2025/26 season. The contract was set through 30 June 2030. Bayer sporting managing director Simon Rolfes highlighted his technique, dribbling, assertiveness and vision when explaining the signing.
The move raised the demands immediately. Bayer expected him to compete in domestic football and the Champions League, process situations faster and contribute within a team that regularly builds attacks through positional rotations. It also gave him experienced technical players to learn from and higher-stakes matches in which to test his decision-making.
Breakthrough 2025/26 season
Season totals and supporter award
Bayer’s official end-of-season report credited Maza with 44 competitive appearances, seven goals and five assists in 2025/26. Supporters voted him the men’s Player of the Season with 39.1 percent of the vote. He also received Bundesliga Rookie of the Month recognition for November 2025 and April 2026.
The figures show a player who moved from adaptation into regular influence within one season. He contributed in the Bundesliga, domestic cup and Champions League rather than building his total in a single competition. Bayer finished sixth in the Bundesliga, reached the DFB-Pokal semi-final and reached the Champions League round of 16.
First professional brace against Heidenheim
A 6-0 Bundesliga win over Heidenheim brought Maza’s first brace in professional football. The match demonstrated two sides of his attacking threat: he could arrive in scoring positions as well as create the movement that opened space around the penalty area. It was an important step from promising involvement to decisive output.
April form against Wolfsburg
In Bayer’s 6-3 win against Wolfsburg in April 2026, Maza won a penalty and scored in the second half. The performance came during the month in which he earned another Rookie of the Month award. It reinforced that his early-season impact had not been a short run of form.
DFB-Pokal performances
Decisive contribution at Paderborn
Bayer needed extra time to win 4-2 at Paderborn. Maza contributed to the equalising sequence and then scored the goal that put Bayer 3-2 ahead in the 122nd minute. Producing a composed action that late in a knockout match was evidence of concentration as well as technique.
Winner against Borussia Dortmund
In the next major cup test at Borussia Dortmund, Maza scored the only goal of a 1-0 win. Bayer’s review named him Man of the Match. The performance was significant because Dortmund offered little room for error and Bayer had to defend the lead as a team after gaining the advantage.
UEFA Champions League development
First Champions League start at Benfica
Maza’s first Champions League start came in Bayer’s 1-0 away victory over Benfica. He was active in possession and in the attacking combinations that gave Bayer a route through a difficult match. The club later identified him as its Player of the Match, a strong response to the pressure of his first start in the competition.
Impact in the win at Manchester City
Bayer’s 2-0 victory away to Manchester City was one of the club’s outstanding results of the season. Maza was involved in both goals: his delivery from the right helped create the opening from which Alejandro Grimaldo scored, and his forward pass and cross supplied Patrik Schick for the second. Maza later selected that night as a personal highlight of the season.
Round of 16 experience
Bayer faced Arsenal in the Champions League round of 16. Maza took part in the 1-1 home leg and was involved in transition moments against a highly organised opponent. Bayer did not progress, but the tie offered the kind of tactical and physical test that helps explain why the club viewed his first season as a major step forward.
Why Maza chose Algeria
Maza represented Germany at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level before choosing Algeria for senior international football in 2024. In a FIFA interview, he connected that decision to his Algerian family background and to memories of watching Algeria reach the 2014 World Cup round of 16. He was nine when Algeria faced Germany in that tournament.
The decision was an international commitment, not a change to where he learned the game. His German academy education and Berlin upbringing remain central parts of his development, while Algeria gave him the senior national-team pathway he wanted to follow.
Algeria debut and early international role
First senior appearance in October 2024
Maza received his first Algeria call-up in October 2024 and debuted against Togo on 10 October. Moving into senior international football while still establishing himself at club level demanded a quick adjustment to new teammates, a different coaching structure and the rhythm of African qualifying matches.
AFCON impact
FIFA’s 2026 squad coverage credited Maza with two goals and one assist at the most recent Africa Cup of Nations. He scored in Algeria’s opening match and became the youngest player to score for the men’s national team, according to the Bundesliga’s World Cup profile. He then added a goal and an assist in Algeria’s final group match.
The tournament was important because it moved him from an emerging squad option into a player who had already delivered in a major international competition. He entered the World Cup with evidence that his close control and attacking choices could translate beyond club football.
Ibrahim Maza at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Maza was selected in Algeria’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA’s final squad document, updated on 19 July 2026, listed him with 21 senior caps and two goals. The checkpoint is useful because it comes after Algeria’s tournament ended and confirms his international total at that stage.
Algeria faced Argentina, Jordan and Austria in the group stage before meeting Switzerland in the round of 32. Maza appeared in all four matches.
Group-stage responsibility
He started against Argentina and was again trusted in Algeria’s attacking midfield structure against Austria. The 3-3 match with Austria required Algeria to respond repeatedly in an open contest. Maza’s role was to help connect midfield with the forwards and carry the ball through pressure.
Player of the Match against Jordan
Maza played the full match in Algeria’s 2-1 win over Jordan and received the official Player of the Match award. Bayer’s tournament update confirmed both the complete appearance and the award. It was his clearest individual recognition of the World Cup.
Dribbling output and the Switzerland tie
FIFA’s review of African performers reported that Maza completed 12 successful dribbles in the group stage and 14 across the tournament. Algeria’s run ended with a 2-0 defeat in the Switzerland match. Even in a short tournament, his ability to beat an opponent and move possession forward was visible at elite international level.
Playing position and tactical role
Maza is best described as an attacking midfielder who can adapt to several starting positions. In a 4-2-3-1 he can play behind the striker. In a 4-3-3 he can work as the more advanced central midfielder, while a fluid front line can use him from the left or right with permission to move inside.
The common thread is access to central space. Keeping him fixed on the touchline for long periods reduces his opportunities to turn, combine and carry. He is most useful when rotations create a route into the half-space and give him a forward passing option after he escapes pressure.
Technical strengths
Close control and one-against-one dribbling
Maza keeps the ball close enough to change direction late. That helps him draw a challenge before moving away from it, particularly when receiving with his back partly toward goal. His Berlin cage-football background is visible in the way he uses small touches and body position in crowded areas.
Receiving between the lines
He checks the space around him before the pass arrives and often receives on the half-turn. When the timing is right, one touch can remove a midfielder from the play. This is why he can advance an attack without relying only on a long pass or a sprint down the wing.
Combination play and chance creation
Maza can exchange short passes around the box, slip a teammate into a channel or deliver a cutback after carrying wide. The Manchester City performance showed that he can also create with a more direct forward pass and cross. His seven-goal, five-assist club season indicates a balance between finishing and supply.
Movement into scoring areas
His first professional brace and cup goals showed improved timing around the penalty area. Rather than waiting outside every attack, he can continue a run after releasing the ball and arrive when defenders are occupied by the striker.
Work without the ball
Modern attacking midfielders must help establish the press, close passing lanes and recover after possession is lost. Maza’s mobility allows him to apply pressure, but the quality of that work depends on timing and team structure. Chasing the ball alone can open the space behind him; coordinated pressure makes his acceleration more useful.
Bayer’s higher-level matches have accelerated this part of his education. Protecting a narrow cup lead at Dortmund or facing possession teams in Europe demands concentration after the attacking action ends. Those experiences matter even when they do not produce an individual statistic.
Areas for development
Decision-making at top speed
Maza has identified decision-making as one of the details he wants to improve. Beating the first defender creates an advantage, but the next choice determines whether that advantage becomes a shot, chance or controlled possession. Elite opponents reduce the time available for that second action.
Weaker foot and defensive consistency
He has also mentioned work on his weaker foot and defensive play. Greater confidence on both feet would make it harder for opponents to show him toward one side. More consistent positioning without the ball would let coaches use him in deeper midfield roles as well as close to the forwards.
Maintaining the basics under pressure
Maza’s own assessment emphasised executing basic actions at high speed and under pressure. This is a sensible development target. The spectacular dribble attracts attention, but clean first touches, simple passes, recovery runs and repeatable choices are what keep a young player in the team across a long season.
How he fits Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer can use Maza as a connector between the first phase of possession and the front line. He gives the team another player capable of turning in midfield, carrying through a gap and combining around the box. His ability to begin centrally or drift inside also supports rotations with attacking full-backs and forwards.
The 2025/26 season showed that he could make decisive contributions while still learning. The next challenge is consistency: controlling matches that offer few transition opportunities, sustaining defensive detail and producing against opponents who plan specifically to close his preferred spaces.
How he fits Algeria
For Algeria, Maza adds a ball-carrier and creative receiver around established attackers. He can combine with players such as Riyad Mahrez while giving the midfield a different route through pressure. His age also makes him part of the national team’s longer-term transition.
Algeria’s squad includes midfielders with different profiles. Nabil Bentaleb offers experience and deeper control, while Ramiz Zerrouki can organise play from central areas. Maza’s strongest contribution is higher up the pitch, where he can receive, turn and attack a defender. Wide threat from Anis Hadj Moussa can create more room for those central actions.
Career timeline
- 2016: Joined the Hertha BSC academy from Reinickendorfer Füchse.
- April 2023: Signed his first professional Hertha contract and made his Bundesliga debut at Bayern Munich.
- May 2023: Scored his first senior goal at Wolfsburg.
- 2024: Became Hertha’s number 10 and chose Algeria for senior international football.
- 10 October 2024: Made his Algeria debut against Togo.
- 1 May 2025: Bayer Leverkusen announced his signing for the 2025/26 season.
- 2025/26: Recorded 44 Bayer appearances, seven goals and five assists in all competitions.
- 2026: Voted Bayer’s men’s Player of the Season and represented Algeria at the FIFA World Cup.
Verified career snapshot
Hertha’s transfer announcement provides the cleanest closing record for his first club: 48 competitive first-team appearances, nine goals and seven assists. Bayer’s dated season award article provides the 2025/26 checkpoint: 44 appearances, seven goals and five assists. FIFA’s final World Cup squad list provides the international checkpoint after the tournament: 21 Algeria caps and two goals.
These totals belong to different clearly stated periods. They should not be mixed with broader database counts or treated as permanently current. Club and international records will change as Maza plays more matches, so future updates should retain the source date and competition scope.
Frequently asked questions
What club does Ibrahim Maza play for?
He plays for Bayer Leverkusen. The club signed him from Hertha BSC for the 2025/26 season and lists him as number 30.
Which country does Ibrahim Maza represent?
He represents Algeria at senior international level. He previously played youth international football for Germany and made his Algeria debut against Togo on 10 October 2024.
What position does Ibrahim Maza play?
His primary position is attacking midfield. He can also play as an advanced central midfielder or move inside from a wide starting position.
Did Ibrahim Maza play at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. He appeared in all four Algeria matches, earned Player of the Match against Jordan and finished the tournament with 21 caps and two senior international goals on FIFA’s final squad document.
What were his Bayer Leverkusen numbers in 2025/26?
Bayer’s official Player of the Season article recorded 44 competitive appearances, seven goals and five assists. Supporters gave him 39.1 percent of the vote for the men’s season award.
Editorial sources and update standard
This profile was checked against official publications from Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha BSC, FIFA and the Bundesliga. Key references include Bayer’s transfer announcement, its 2025/26 season award report, Hertha’s first-team record, FIFA’s Algeria interview and FIFA’s final 2026 squad list.
Match totals are tied to the stated source checkpoint so readers can distinguish a verified season record from a live career total. The page should be updated when a new official club season summary or Algeria squad record changes those checkpoints.
