# Kennet Eichhorn
**Kennet Eichhorn** (born 2009) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga) club [Bayer 04 Leverkusen](https://www.edgepedia.org/bayer-04-leverkusen) and the Germany under-17 national team. A [Hertha BSC](https://www.edgepedia.org/hertha-bsc) academy product, he set a series of age records in the 2025/26 season as the youngest player, starter, and goalscorer in Bundesliga 2 history before moving to Leverkusen in June 2026 at age 16.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2009, Bernau bei Berlin, Germany[2](https://www.transfermarkt.de/kennet-eichhorn/ausfaelle/spieler/1214123) |
| Position | Defensive midfielder, also capable in central midfield[3](https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/16-year-old-with-great-potential-kennet-eichhorn-profile) |
| 2025/26 season | 17 Bundesliga 2 appearances plus 2 DFB-Pokal games, one goal in each competition; 19 competitive appearances and 2 goals in total for Hertha[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen/kennet-eichhorn) |
| Age records | Youngest Bundesliga 2 player (16 years 14 days), youngest starter, youngest goalscorer (16 years 287 days), and youngest DFB-Pokal scorer (16 years 128 days)[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) |
| Leverkusen move | Signed a long-term contract on 10 June 2026; at the club since 1 July 2026, contract runs to 30 June 2031, shirt number 18[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen/kennet-eichhorn) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.de/kennet-eichhorn/ausfaelle/spieler/1214123) |
| International career | Germany U17: four caps, two goals, captain in all four appearances[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) |
| Health setback | Diagnosed with a treatment-requiring metabolic disorder in August 2026 and ruled out indefinitely[5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/kennet-eichhorn-metabolic-disorder-leverkusen-youngster-38438) |
## Youth career at Hertha BSC
Eichhorn joined Hertha Berlin as an Under-9 player in 2017 and progressed through the club's academy, training with the professional squad from the age of 15.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) He signed his first professional contract with Hertha in summer 2025.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) Because Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 players are not permitted to appear in first-team games before turning 16, he was too young to take part in any of Hertha's six pre-season friendlies in summer 2025.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768)
## Record-breaking 2025/26 season
**Debut at 16 years and 14 days.** Eichhorn made his senior debut on 10 August 2025, coming on as a substitute for Leon Jensen in the 68th minute of Hertha's goalless Matchday 2 draw with [Karlsruher SC](https://www.edgepedia.org/karlsruher-sc) at the Olympiastadion, in front of nearly 60,000 spectators. The appearance made him the youngest player in Bundesliga 2 history.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) Only Youssoufa Moukoko, who debuted in the Bundesliga a day after his 16th birthday, has appeared in Germany's top two divisions at a younger age.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768)
A little over a month later he became the youngest player ever to start a Bundesliga 2 match, named in Stefan Leitl's team to face Hannover on Matchday 5. In that game at the [Heinz von Heiden Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/heinz-von-heiden-arena) he completed 86 percent of his passes, lost possession only once, and won 55 percent of his challenges before leaving to an ovation in the 89th minute of a 3-0 win. Hertha's coach called him "by far the best player on the pitch."[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768)
**Goals and records.** In December 2025 he scored in Hertha's 6-1 [DFB-Pokal](https://www.edgepedia.org/dfb-pokal) round-of-16 win over [Kaiserslautern](https://www.edgepedia.org/kaiserslautern), becoming the competition's and Hertha's youngest-ever scorer at 16 years and 128 days.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) His first league goal followed in Hertha's 2-1 Matchday 33 win over Greuther Fürth in May 2026, making him Bundesliga 2's youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 287 days.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) Injury limited his availability for much of the second half of the season, and he also served a yellow-card suspension in November 2025 and a red-card suspension in April 2026.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.de/kennet-eichhorn/ausfaelle/spieler/1214123) Across the campaign he made 17 league appearances and two cup appearances, scoring once in each competition.[3](https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/16-year-old-with-great-potential-kennet-eichhorn-profile)
## Transfer to Bayer Leverkusen
Eichhorn's breakout season made him one of the most sought-after teenagers in European football. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Manchester City, and Liverpool were all reported as interested, and he rejected approaches from [RB Leipzig](https://www.edgepedia.org/rb-leipzig) and Liverpool before choosing [Leverkusen](https://www.edgepedia.org/leverkusen).[6](https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/sky-sport-exklusiv-bayer-leverkusen-holt-hertha-juwel-eichhorn/13552651/33896) Bayern and Dortmund withdrew from the contest after his camp demanded a signing fee reported at ten million euros on top of the transfer fee, a total package of around 20 million euros that both clubs declined.[7](https://www.sport1.de/news/transfermarkt/2026/06/deutschlands-supertalent-eichhorn-haengt-in-der-warteschleife)
Hertha announced the transfer on 10 June 2026, and Leverkusen confirmed the signing the following day. The transfer fee was reported at around nine million euros.[7](https://www.sport1.de/news/transfermarkt/2026/06/deutschlands-supertalent-eichhorn-haengt-in-der-warteschleife) • [8](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/kennet-eichhorn-hospitalizado-por-un-trastorno-metabolico-f202608-n/) Eichhorn signed a long-term contract, joined the club officially on 1 July 2026, and took the number 18 shirt, citing Leverkusen's record of developing young players.[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen/kennet-eichhorn) • [3](https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/16-year-old-with-great-potential-kennet-eichhorn-profile) Sporting director Simon Rolfes described him as "one of the best German talents in our ranks."[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen/kennet-eichhorn) In September 2026 the DFB awarded him the Fritz Walter Medal in Gold, the leading individual award in German youth football, for his performances in the 2025/26 season.[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen/kennet-eichhorn)
## Metabolic disorder and absence
In August 2026, Leverkusen confirmed that Eichhorn had been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder requiring treatment and had been ruled out indefinitely, with no timeframe given for his return.[5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/kennet-eichhorn-metabolic-disorder-leverkusen-youngster-38438) The condition was identified during routine medical examinations and was preceded by excessive physical strain and weight loss, partly the result of a gastrointestinal illness; Spanish reports described a gastrointestinal infection in July after which he lost up to five kilograms in five days.[5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/kennet-eichhorn-metabolic-disorder-leverkusen-youngster-38438) • [8](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/kennet-eichhorn-hospitalizado-por-un-trastorno-metabolico-f202608-n/) He was placed under the care of specialist doctors, and Rolfes said the club would support him "without any pressure" during his recovery.[5](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/kennet-eichhorn-metabolic-disorder-leverkusen-youngster-38438)
## International career
Eichhorn has represented Germany at under-15, under-16, and under-17 level, recording four U17 caps and two goals, and captaining Germany Under-17s in all four of those appearances.[9](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/kennet-eichhorn/spieler) • [1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) He scored twice in a 4-0 European Under-17 Championship qualifying win over [Luxembourg](https://www.edgepedia.org/luxembourg). Club commitments prevented him from captaining the side at the [FIFA U-17 World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-u-17-world-cup) in Qatar in November and December 2025.[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768)
## Playing style
Eichhorn is a right-footed holding midfielder who can also play in central midfield, noted for a combination of physical presence, technical security, and game intelligence unusual for his age.[3](https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/16-year-old-with-great-potential-kennet-eichhorn-profile) His composure on the ball has drawn frequent comparisons with [Toni Kroos](https://www.edgepedia.org/toni-kroos), including the nickname "Mini-Kroos" in the Spanish press; Felix Kroos, the former Germany midfielder's brother, said in October 2025 that "the way he plays is remarkable. He radiates calm."[1](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768) • [7](https://www.sport1.de/news/transfermarkt/2026/06/deutschlands-supertalent-eichhorn-haengt-in-der-warteschleife) Bayer 04 lists him at 1.88 m and 79 kg, while Transfermarkt lists 1.86 m.[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen/kennet-eichhorn) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.de/kennet-eichhorn/ausfaelle/spieler/1214123)
## References
1. [Kennet Eichhorn: Who is Bayer Leverkusen's Germany youth international midfielder? Bundesliga](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-kennet-eichhorn-hertha-berlin-germany-youth-international-34768)
2. [Kennet Eichhorn – Sperren & Ausfälle, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.de/kennet-eichhorn/ausfaelle/spieler/1214123)
3. [16-year-old with great potential: Kennet Eichhorn profile, Bayer04.de](https://www.bayer04.de/en-us/news/bayer04/16-year-old-with-great-potential-kennet-eichhorn-profile)
4. [Kennet Eichhorn – Mittelfeld, Bayer 04 Leverkusen](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/bayer-04-leverkusen/kennet-eichhorn)
5. [Bayer Leverkusen's Kennet Eichhorn diagnosed with metabolic disorder, Bundesliga](https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/kennet-eichhorn-metabolic-disorder-leverkusen-youngster-38438)
6. [Offiziell! Bayer Leverkusen holt Hertha-Juwel Kennet Eichhorn, Sky Sport](https://sport.sky.de/fussball/artikel/sky-sport-exklusiv-bayer-leverkusen-holt-hertha-juwel-eichhorn/13552651/33896)
7. [Das Ringen um den „Mini-Kroos", SPORT1](https://www.sport1.de/news/transfermarkt/2026/06/deutschlands-supertalent-eichhorn-haengt-in-der-warteschleife)
8. [Kennet Eichhorn, hospitalizado por un trastorno metabólico, AS](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/kennet-eichhorn-hospitalizado-por-un-trastorno-metabolico-f202608-n/)
9. [Kennet Eichhorn – Spielerprofil, DFB Datencenter](https://datencenter.dfb.de/personen/kennet-eichhorn/spieler)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › German footballers born 1995 onward*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license