Liverpool have missed out on 16-year-old midfielder Kennet Eichhorn this summer, despite reportedly presenting the teen prodigy with a more attractive financial offer than he stands to get anywhere else.
Premier League rivals Manchester City were also thwarted in the battle to sign the Hertha BSC gem, with Bayer Leverkusen confirmed as his next chapter instead.
Berlin-born Eichhorn made the senior breakthrough with local club Hertha last season, playing 17 times in 2. Bundesliga—it would likely have been far more but for an ankle injury that kept him sidelined from late January until late March.
But with Hertha set for a fourth straight season outside Germany’s top flight, the time has already come for Eichhorn to move on for the betterment of his career.
Sky Sport Germany reported that Eichhorn has actively turned down the chance to join Liverpool, having been “aggressively pursued” by the 2024–25 English champions. The Reds would have paid the youngster more money than any club in Germany is willing to, yet “sporting development” has motivated his decision to remain in his home country and join Leverkusen instead.
Manchester City are assumed to have missed out for the same reason. It is suggested that both English clubs wanted to sign Eichhorn and have him join Leverkusen on loan for the upcoming season—players cannot be transferred internationally outside the E.U. before the age of 18. But Leverkusen had other ideas and wanted to purchase the talent outright for themselves.
Leverkusen have activated a release clause set out in Eichhorn’s Hertha contract, allowing a contract to be signed. Other “top clubs” in Germany were also after the U17 national team player, which makes it a significant coup for Leverkusen. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, both of whom have Champions League soccer in 2026–27 to offer, are named by Sky.
Kennet Eichhorn Chooses Clearer Pathway
Choosing Bayer Leverkusen, after the persuasive efforts of senior executives Simon Rolfes and Kim Falkenberg, is a conservative but perhaps ultimately intelligent move for Eichhorn.
It remains a strong German club with high potential and European competition on the schedule. But there is also a noted family-like culture and a commitment to developing and nurturing young players, all the while still often going under the radar compared to clubs like Dortmund or Leipzig.
“After really very good talks, I decided on what I consider to be the best solution,” Eichhorn explained once his transfer was rubber-stamped on Wednesday. “Leverkusen is a club that has quickly developed many players, even very young ones, into top professionals.
“I will do everything I can to follow a similar path here. I’m really looking forward to taking my next steps at such an exciting, top European club like Bayer 04.”
Eichhorn could have chosen Liverpool or Manchester City and still ended up playing for Leverkusen next season—the assumption is that as a 6'1" midfielder likened to Sergio Busquets he will be immediately exposed to Bundesliga action—but would then have been at the mercy of either Premier League team’s much more competitive squad come his 18th birthday in July 2027.
Not managing to sign Eichhorn doesn’t change anything in the short-term for Liverpool or Manchester City. However, if his upward trajectory continues as expected, it means recruiting the German in the future will be much more expensive than if they’d been successful now.
