Borussia Dortmund are currently the frontrunners to sign 16-year-old Hertha BSC midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, according to a report in Bild. The highly sought-after youngster has also attracted interest from a number of Europe’s elite clubs, including Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Manchester City, and Real Madrid.
Eichhorn recently became the youngest goalscorer in 2. Bundesliga history, netting in Hertha’s 2-1 victory over Greuther Fürth at the age of 16 years, nine months, and 13 days. This surpassed the previous record held by Günter Reeg since 1985 by 52 days. The goal was his second for Hertha, having previously scored in a DFB-Pokal win against Kaiserslautern in December.
Hertha sporting director Benjamin Weber acknowledged the interest in Eichhorn but expressed the club’s desire to retain the player. “There is still no decision,” Weber told Bild. “We are in contact with Kenny’s parents. We will do everything in our power to convince him to stay here for another year.” Weber highlighted the importance of playing time and development opportunities as key arguments for Eichhorn remaining with Hertha.
Despite Hertha’s efforts, Eichhorn’s contract reportedly includes a release clause in the region of €10-12 million. Bild suggest that Hertha are considering a strategy of selling the player this summer, but potentially loaning him back to the club for the 2026/27 season to continue his development. Eichhorn has made 18 appearances for Hertha across all competitions this season, quickly establishing himself as a key member of the squad despite his young age.
The interest from Dortmund comes as they continue to build a reputation for developing young talent, and Eichhorn would likely be seen as a long-term investment for the Bundesliga side. Securing his signature would represent a significant coup for Dortmund, given the competition from other major European clubs. This transfer could provide Hertha with a substantial fee to reinvest in the squad, while also potentially allowing Eichhorn to continue his progression at a high level.
