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Hertha Berlin midfielder Kennet Eichhorn has rapidly emerged as one of the most highly-rated young players in German football, with Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool all linked with the 16-year-old in recent months – with Bayern Munich having dropped out of the race. The Germany youth international has already become one of the youngest players to feature professionally for Hertha and is increasingly viewed as one of the standout prospects in the country.
Eichhorn made history when he debuted for Hertha at just 16 years and 14 days old, becoming the youngest player in 2. Bundesliga history. Since then, he has continued to establish himself around the first team during the 2025/26 season, making multiple senior appearances and earning increasing responsibility despite his age. According to FotMob, the midfielder ranks highly among young midfielders in interceptions and pass completion percentage, highlighting both his defensive awareness and composure in possession.
Why Europe’s top clubs are watching
Bayern’s interest in Eichhorn was widely reported, with sporting director Max Eberl publicly acknowledging the club’s admiration for the teenager, but Germany’s record champions have since pulled out of the running, due to the reported €10m+ signing fee. Borussia Dortmund are also heavily interested, while Liverpool have reportedly held concrete talks over a future transfer despite Brexit regulations preventing an immediate move to England.
What makes Eichhorn particularly attractive is his profile as a modern midfielder. Comfortable under pressure, he combines positional intelligence with technical quality and defensive discipline. His passing accuracy and ability to recover possession have stood out consistently in limited senior minutes.
A mature player beyond his years
Eichhorn’s mentality has also drawn praise. Former Bayern, Real Madrid and Germany international Toni Kroos said: The way he plays is remarkable. He radiates calm, he’s gaining valuable experience but is allowed to make mistakes. I hope he continues to develop at Hertha.”
Hertha sporting director Benjamin Weber also praised the midfielder’s development and maturity, describing him as a player with exceptional understanding of the game for his age. That tactical awareness is one of the reasons several major clubs see him as a long-term investment rather than simply a talented academy player.
With Dortmund, Leverkusen and Liverpool all monitoring his progress closely, Hertha face an increasingly difficult challenge in keeping hold of one of Germany’s brightest emerging talents.
