Eichhorn broke into Hertha’s first team in 2025-26 Maja Hitij/Getty Images
June 10, 2026 Updated 8:16 am EDT
Bayer Leverkusen have overcome fierce competition to sign Hertha Berlin talent Kennet Eichhorn — one of European football’s most coveted young players.
Eichhorn was being pursued by top clubs in Germany and England but chose to continue his career with the 2024 Bundesliga champions.
Leverkusen’s pursuit was led by managing director Simon Rolfes and director of football Kim Falkenberg, the executives operating somewhat under the radar to secure the 16-year-old defensive midfielder.
Given the strength of interest from elsewhere, few tipped Leverkusen to win the race for Eichhorn and many will regard this as a significant coup.
They will activate a release clause in his contract, allowing the Germany youth international to travel and put pen to paper as all parties work to complete the relevant paperwork.
Eichhorn broke into Hertha’s first team in the 2025-26 campaign, making 17 appearances in the 2.Bundesliga — the second tier of German football. He has represented Germany up to under-17 level.
Who is Eichhorn and what does this mean for Leverkusen?
Analysis from German football correspondent Sebastian Stafford-Bloor
Eichhorn is the German talent of his generation. Having only played at 2.Bundesliga level, he remains somewhat theoretical, but for Leverkusen to snag a player who has, among others, been compared with a young Toni Kroos is really quite a coup.
Outside of international interest, for Simon Rolfes and his recruiting staff to have sold Eichhorn on a project which is still in a rebuilding phase following Xabi Alonso’s 2025 departure is quite a feat. Leverkusen were the only club competing for his signature that could not immediately offer Champions League football to the young midfielder, which speaks to the strength of their pitch.
His future and theirs is very exciting.
Jun 10, 2026
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