BERLIN (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen snapped up promising 16-year-old midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from second-division Hertha Berlin on Wednesday.
The Bundesliga club reportedly made use of a clause in the player’s contract with Hertha to sign him for a fee of just under 10 million euros ($11.5 million), while German media also reported the German youth international will receive a signing bonus in the region of the transfer fee.
“We are very happy we were able to convince Kennet Eichhorn of our approach,” Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes said. “We were already in close contact with Kennet and his family a year ago, and even back then we formed a good bond.”
Bundesliga rival Leipzig was also reportedly pushing for Eichhorn’s signature, but Leverkusen’s prospects improved after the appointment of Carles Martínez as coach last week.
“With Kennet, we now have one of the best German talents in our ranks,” Rolfes said.
Born in July 2009 in Bernau to the north of Berlin, Eichhorn impressed over 17 appearances in Germany’s second division and two in the German Cup last season. He scored two goals. He would have played more but for an ankle injury and two-game suspension after a red card. He became Hertha’s youngest professional player when he made his debut in August.
Eichhorn joined Hertha’s youth setup in 2017.
“I’ve taken a path at Hertha that has formed me. And that’s been the case since the Under-9s,” Eichhorn said in a Hertha statement. “Every year, in every team, I felt trust, support, and backing here. I am incredibly grateful for that.”
Leverkusen said he had signed a “long-term contract” with his new club and will wear No. 18.
“Leverkusen is a club that has quickly developed many players, even very young ones, into top professionals,” Eichhorn said on the club website. “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.”
Eichhorn is the second highly rated talent to join Leverkusen from Hertha in as many years after it signed Ibrahim Maza from the capital club last year. The now 20-year-old Maza scored three goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances in his debut season and starred for Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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