Liverpool have entered concrete talks to sign Kennet Eichhorn, the 16-year-old midfielder from Hertha Berlin, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg. This development represents a potential setback for Newcastle United, who had reportedly made significant progress in attempting to secure the player’s signature.
Eichhorn is considered one of Germany’s most promising young defensive midfielders, attracting interest from several top clubs including Manchester City. TEAMtalk’s transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, previously reported that Manchester City were planning to sign Eichhorn this summer, with a proposed two-year loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen to continue his development.
However, Arne Slot’s Liverpool are now aiming to secure a deal for Eichhorn, with plans for him to join the club in the summer of 2026. Eichhorn made history in August when he became the youngest ever player in the 2. Bundesliga, debuting against Karlsruhe at just 16 years and 14 days old. He subsequently became the youngest player to start a match in the German second tier, aged 16 years and 48 days.
This season, Eichhorn has made 20 appearances for Hertha Berlin, scoring two goals. A release clause of between €10-12 million is reportedly in place. Newcastle United were also pursuing a similar strategy to Manchester City, intending to allow Eichhorn to continue his development in Germany for two seasons before joining the first team. With Liverpool now actively involved, Newcastle’s chances of securing the young talent appear diminished. The competition for Eichhorn highlights the growing demand for promising young players across Europe’s top leagues, and his eventual destination will be closely watched.
