▁but ▁he ▁opt ed ▁for ▁Bayer ▁Le verk us en ▁in ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁and ▁signed ▁a ▁four - year ▁contract ▁till ▁ 3 0 ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁with ▁Le verk us en ▁pay ing ▁€ 6 . 5 ▁million ▁for ▁his ▁signature . ▁On ▁ 1 2 ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁K ieß ling ▁made ▁his ▁first ▁appearance ▁for ▁the ▁new ▁club , ▁coming ▁on ▁as ▁a ▁substitute . ▁ ▁After ▁arriv ing ▁in ▁Le verk us en , ▁he ▁n ett ed ▁eight ▁goals ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 – 0 7 ▁season , ▁ 1 6 ▁goals ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 – 0 8 ▁season , ▁and ▁ 1 4 ▁goals ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 – 0 9 ▁season . ▁On ▁ 5 ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁he ▁scored ▁his ▁side ' s ▁first ▁goal ▁in ▁a ▁ 2 – 0 ▁win ▁over ▁ 1 . ▁FC ▁Köln , ▁keeping ▁alive ▁Le verk us en ' s ▁ch ances ▁of ▁qual ifying ▁for ▁Europe ▁for ▁the ▁following ▁season . ▁Le verk us en ▁tra iled ▁off ▁following ▁the ▁win , ▁eventually ▁falling ▁to ▁nin th ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁Bundes liga ▁stand ings . ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁he ▁was ▁voted ▁as ▁Bundes liga ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Month . ▁He ▁then ▁scored ▁a ▁hat - tr ick ▁for ▁Bayer ▁Le verk us