Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Lead Race for Eichhorn

BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY - APRIL 19: Kennet Eichhorn of Hertha BSC leaves the field after receiving a red card during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hertha BSC at Eintracht-Stadion on April 19, 2026 at Braunschweig, Germany. (Photo by City-Press via Getty Images) | City-Press via Getty Images

Per Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany, Liverpool FC are leading the race for Hertha Berlin’s 16-year-old midfielder Kennet Eichhorn. Competition for his signature includes Man City, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern, RB Leipzig, Dortmund and Stuttgart.

🚨🔴 More on our exclusive news about 16 y/o gem Kennet Eichhorn. In personal meetings and talks, Liverpool presented him with a clear career plan – just like many other clubs did. #LFC want to sign him now and then loan him out for 1-2 years to a club ideally playing in the… pic.twitter.com/4Yr8g7vOjf

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 25, 2026

The reported release clause of €10-12 million is apparently going to expire soon in June, so we’ll probably hear a solid conclusion soon.

Kennet Eichhorn’s release clause is reportedly set to expire. A decision is expected in the first few weeks of June. The link with Borussia Dortmund no longer seems to be the hottest prospect. It emerged a few days ago that, despite the favourable clause, a transfer could prove…

— BVB Newsblog (@bvbnewsblog) May 26, 2026

Eichhorn made his Bundesliga 2 debut this season and is considered a calm, composed defensive midfielder, blessed with the ability to set the tempo and organise play.

Tall.
Physically strong.
Top ball carrier.
Top Passer.

He is also the Youngest to:
🎖️ Score in 2. Bundesliga
🎖️ Debut in 2. Bundesliga
🎖️ Score for Hertha
🎖️ Score in DFB Pokal

The new Liverpool target…

𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗧 𝗘𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗡 (𝟭𝟲, 𝗖𝗠) 🇩🇪💎 pic.twitter.com/3VPHG9yL58

— Rising Stars XI (@RisingStarXI) May 25, 2026

BBC journalist Dale Johnson raised concerns about the potential signing of Eichhorn, due to age-related roadblocks post-Brexit.

Worth mentioning that Liverpool cannot sign Kennet Eicchorn this summer.

He's 16. He can join a club in any other major European league now, but post-Brexit you have to be 18 to sign for an English club.

And you can't sign the player now and loan them out until they are 18.

— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonBBC) May 26, 2026

However, as LFC academy-focused journalist Lewis Bower points out, Liverpool have already completed several dudes with similar roadblocks, so it wouldn’t be a problem.

Reminder Liverpool had a deal in place for Mor Talla Ndiaye to sign when turning 18 as well Ifeanyi Ndukwe.

And currently have deals for Samuel Martinez and Sidy Barhama Ndiaye to join when they turn 18.

This won’t be a problem for Liverpool in terms of Kennet Eichhorn.

— Lewis Bower (@LewisBower2021) May 26, 2026

Eichhorn will turn 17 in July, which means the young deep-lying playmaker should be able to join Liverpool in a year, at the start of the 2027/28 season, should this deal go through.

This deal has seemingly popped up out of nowhere for one of Germany’s brightest prospects, in one of the hardest positions to incubate or recruit for. Eichhorn could play a valuable year of top-level Bundesliga football before joining Liverpool, should the rumoured structure of the deal materialise.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com