- Man City want to sign Kennet Eichhorn
- City are willing to pay his release clause
- He would then be loaned out
Manchester City are advancing in their plan to sign teenage midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from Bundesliga outfit Hertha BSC.
The exciting young talent is just 16 years old, but has already been impressing in the German second tier this season.
City have been linked to Eichhorn for some time, with reports indicating that Pep Guardiola’s side see the teenager as a potnetial long-term successor for Rodri.
Now, it appears that the Carabao Cup winners are readying their next move, and are prepared to do everything necessary to ensure Eichhorn becomes a City player.
Manchester City ready to trigger Eichhorn release clause
According to journalist and transfer expert Florian Plettenberg, City already have a plan in place to sign Eichhorn, and will send the youngster on loan back to Germany.
Plettenberg said on X: “There is a concrete plan for Manchester City to sign Kennet Eichhorn by triggering his release clause and then loaning him directly to Bayer Leverkusen next summer.
“The deal is possible because Leverkusen and Man City have had a cooperation in place for some time. No decision yet. Bayern, Leipzig and Dortmund are also in the race for the 16 y/o gem of Hertha BSC.”
🚨💎 EXCL | There is a concrete plan for Manchester City to sign Kennet Eichhorn by triggering his release clause and then loaning him directly to Bayer 04 Leverkusen next summer.
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 11, 2026
The deal is possible because Leverkusen and #MCFC have had a cooperation in place for some time.… pic.twitter.com/NokoWkWSD2
With the teenager unlikely to be ready for the Premier League just yet, a loan move back to another side in Germany seems smart.
This will allow him to develop further, and remain in a more familiar setting before preparing to move overseas at such a young age.
Man City will face competition for Eichhorn
While they are the front-runners to sign Eichhorn, City will face plenty of competition for the exciting young star.
In Germany, both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have been linked with a move for the Berlin-born talent.
There is interest from across the Bundesliga, while at least one other Premier League club are reported to be monitoring Eichhorn’s situation.
Signing Eichhorn so young could allow City to mould ‘next Rodri’
With Eichhorn still only a teenager, he has the potential for astronomical development, both physically and technically.
Bringing him to the Etihad so young is not without its risks, and he will need to be carefully managed and allowed to play regular, top-level football over the next few seasons.
But if the club handle him correctly, it could allow City to shape Eichhorn into exactly the kind of midfielder that could play for them for the next decade, especially if he can learn from the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.
