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Hertha BSC’s young international star Kennet Eichhorn is reportedly on his way to Bayer Leverkusen, according to Sky.

The highly rated midfielder has, as per reports, agreed to make the switch to the 'City of Colours' this summer. Eichhorn has now informed all other interested clubs about his final decision.

Although the 16-year-old still has a contract with Hertha BSC until 2029 following his renewal last summer, an early exit is possible due to a release clause. Different reports have mentioned varying transfer fees, but Sky claims Bayer Leverkusen will pay between eight and nine million euros to secure the services of the central midfielder.

This transfer brings an end to weeks of speculation surrounding one of Germany’s most promising young players, who had attracted attention from several top clubs both domestically and abroad.

However, the list of potential destinations gradually narrowed. Bayern Munich allegedly withdrew after Eichhorn’s representatives demanded a large signing bonus, while Liverpool lost out because the teenager preferred to continue his career in Germany. As reported by kicker recently, the competition came down to Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig, though Ruhrnachrichten indicated that Borussia Dortmund remained a contender until the end.

Eichhorn reportedly delayed his final decision until Bayer Leverkusen’s coaching situation was settled.

While Leverkusen had long been seen as a leading option, Sky now reports that Eichhorn will soon undergo his medical examination before signing a contract valid until 2031. The outlet summed it up simply: “The saga is over.”

The appointment of a new head coach last week is believed to have dispelled any remaining doubts the young midfielder may have had. The teenager was said to be waiting to find out who would replace Kasper Hjulmand at Bayer, and his patience was viewed as a clear signal that the move was near. Eichhorn is also understood to have already had direct talks with Bayer’s new coach, Carles Martinez.

Martinez is well known for developing young players and has often been compared to former Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. His possession-focused, attacking philosophy is expected to suit Eichhorn’s abilities well, particularly given the youngster’s strengths as a defensive midfielder.

In the previous season, the U17 captain missed nearly three months due to a serious syndesmosis injury, followed by a suspension after receiving a red card. Despite these setbacks, he remained a regular in coach Stefan Leitl’s starting line-up for Hertha, standing out as one of the few positives in a campaign where the team once again fell short of promotion.

Kennet Eichhorn’s statistics for Hertha BSC’s first team