Fabrizio Romano: Manchester City add Bundesliga star to summer transfer list | OneFootball

Manchester City have entered the race to sign Hertha BSC’s highly-rated teenage defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 16-year-old Berliner has been one of the most talked-about young talents in European football since bursting onto the scene in the 2. Bundesliga this season, making his senior debut for Hertha in August 2025 to become the youngest player in the competition’s history at just 16 years and 14 days old.

Eichhorn has gone on to make 13 appearances in all competitions for Hertha BSC this term, drawing widespread comparisons with Germany and Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos owing to his composure, long-range passing range and natural authority in the middle of the park.

He has also captained Germany at U17 level, underlining the considerable regard in which his country’s football federation holds the Bernau bei Berlin-born youngster. His current market value stands at around €20 million – a remarkable figure for a player who only signed his first professional contract with Hertha last summer.

Romano: City join race for Eichhorn alongside Bundesliga and Premier League rivals

As reported by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have joined the race with Bundesliga and Premier League clubs for Eichhorn, with the teenager seen as an interesting profile by City, one more Premier League club and Bundesliga giants. The situation has been deemed as ‘one to watch’ in the coming months.

The update is consistent with the broader recruitment philosophy of City director of football Hugo Viana, who has shown a consistent appetite for identifying young, technically gifted players with significant development potential since his appointment at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2025.

Eichhorn fits the profile of several of City’s recent acquisitions in the midfield department. The teenager operates as a defensive midfielder, drawing comparisons with Rodri in terms of positional intelligence and range of passing – attributes that have seen Viana prioritise the position heavily in City’s summer recruitment planning.

What is the wider context for City’s interest in Eichhorn?

City’s pursuit of young, high-ceiling talent has been a defining thread running through Viana’s tenure at the Etihad Stadium, with the Portuguese executive overseeing a sweeping rebuild of Pep Guardiola’s squad since his arrival in the summer of 2025.

The Blues’ midfield is set for further change this summer, with club captain Bernardo Silva confirmed as a departure when his contract expires in June and Rodri‘s future still unresolved amid ongoing interest from Real Madrid.

While Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson remains City’s primary midfield target this summer, Eichhorn represents a longer-term investment of an altogether different nature.

Whether City move to formalise their interest in the coming months remains to be seen, the teenager’s name is now firmly on the radar of City fans watching developments unfold ahead of a pivotal summer at the Etihad Stadium.