Kennet Eichhorn, Bayer's €9m signing and the Kroos comparisons

Bayer Leverkusen signed the 16-year-old midfielder for €9m in summer 2025, beating Bayern, Dortmund and Liverpool to the German prospect.

Kennet Eichhorn, a 16-year-old midfielder born in July 2009, has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a contract until 2031 after the club paid €9 million including bonuses. The German academy product, who came through Hertha Berlin's youth system, made his Zweite Liga debut in August 2025 at just 16 years and 14 days old, becoming the youngest debutant in the division's history. In December 2025, he scored against Kaiserslautern in the German Cup at 16 years and 128 days, breaking Jude Bellingham's record as the competition's youngest goalscorer.

Eichhorn is a 1.86m tall midfielder who operates as a defensive midfielder or in a more central role. Scouts praise his vision, dynamism and spatial awareness—qualities that drew comparisons to Toni Kroos. He is known for his maturity on the ball, preferring substance and geometry over spectacular passes, and excels at ball recovery and distribution. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool were also interested, but Eichhorn chose Leverkusen to develop at a club with a track record of nurturing young talent. He now captains Germany's Under-17 side.