Hegeler extends Bayer Leverkusen contract

Leverkusen, Germany – Bayer Leverkusen announced Thursday that midfielder Jens Hegeler has signed a contract extension with the club to keep him at the BayArena until 2017.

"We are delighted to have been able to tie Jens down to us in the long term," said Leverkusen's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser. "He has proven his high value to the team in recent months and is far from reaching the end of his development."

Hegeler, 25, came through the youth ranks with Leverkusen and has committed his foreseeable future to the club by signing the extension.

Leverkusen sits third in the Bundesliga, trailing second-place Borussia Dortmund by four points.