Kennet Eichhorn (German pronunciation: [ˈkɛnɛt ˈaɪ̯çhɔʁn]; born 27 July 2009) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for 2. Bundesliga club Hertha BSC.

Kennet Eichhorn
Personal information
Date of birth (2009-07-27) 27 July 2009 (age 16)
Place of birth Bernau bei Berlin, Germany[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Hertha BSC
Number 23
Youth career
2017–2025 Hertha BSC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Hertha BSC 17 (1)
International career
2024 Germany U16 2 (0)
2025– Germany U17 4 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:57, 18 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:01, 11 October 2025 (UTC)

Club career

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A youth product of Hertha BSC since he was a U9 in 2017, Eichhorn signed his first professional contract with the club on 4 July 2025.[2] On 10 August 2025, he made his senior and professional debut with Hertha in a goalless 2. Bundesliga tie with Karlsruher SC.[3] At 16 years and 14 days old, he became the youngest ever debutant in the 2. Bundesliga taking the record from Efe-Kaan Sihlaroglu.[4] Later that year, on 2 December, he scored his first goal for the club in a 6–1 win over Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal, at 16 years and 128 days old, becoming the youngest scorer in the competition's history and surpassing Jude Bellingham's previous record, and also the youngest scorer in Hertha's history, breaking Ibrahim Maza's record.[5] On 10 May 2026, Eichhorn scored his first 2. Bundesliga goal in a 2–1 win over Greuther Fürth, becoming the youngest player, aged 16 years and 287 days, to score in the league, surpassing the previous record set by Gunther Reeg in 1985.[6]

On 10 June 2026, Eichhorn signed for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen on a contract until 2031, after the club activated a release clause in his contract with Hertha BSC reportedly worth just under €10 million.[7][8]

International career

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Eichhorn is a youth international for Germany, having played up to the Germany U17s.[9]

Playing style

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Eichhorn is considered a composed, intelligent defensive midfielder with strong tactical awareness, showing calmness under pressure, an excellent sense of the game, and an ability to organize play rather than rely on flashy dribbling. His idols are often cited as Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Busquets and Toni Kroos.[10]

Career statistics

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As of match played 10 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League DFB-Pokal Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hertha BSC 2025–26[11] 2. Bundesliga 16121182
Career total 16121182

References

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