Bayer Leverkusen Faces Uncertainty After Eichhorn's Injury Setback

The plan was simple. Kennet Eichhorn would arrive, slot into Bayer Leverkusen’s midfield rotation, and grow into one of the defining players of the club’s next era. Instead, before he has kicked a competitive ball, the 17-year-old finds himself in a hospital ward and Leverkusen are ripping up their squad plans for the first half of the season.

In mid-July, Eichhorn suddenly dropped five kilos in five days after a severe gastrointestinal infection. What initially looked like an unpleasant but temporary setback has turned into something far more serious. Doctors have since diagnosed a metabolic illness, and the new signing is now receiving inpatient treatment as specialists search for the cause and work to rebuild his strength.

According to Sport Bild, the club expects a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with no timetable for a return.

Squad plans torn up

That uncertainty has forced a hard pivot behind the scenes. Leverkusen have removed Eichhorn entirely from their squad planning for the first half of the season. The idea of easing him in as a fresh option in central midfield has vanished, and so has the notion of trimming that department more aggressively.

Originally, two central midfielders were earmarked for sale to make room and raise funds. Now, with Eichhorn unavailable, only one departure is on the table. It changes the tone of the summer. What looked like controlled evolution has become an exercise in risk management.

• Equi Fernandez
• Aleix Garcia
• Robert Andrich

Transfer dominoes in midfield

Fernandez, 24, is the most marketable. His profile, age and recent performances mean he could command around 20 million euros, a significant fee for a player who not long ago seemed to be on his way out under a cloud. His relationship with former coach Kasper Hjulmand broke down, but under Carles Martinez the dynamic has improved. The tension has eased, the dialogue is back. That makes any sale a strategic choice, not a necessity.

Garcia, at 29, is in a different position. He is open to a move; he can see the logic of one more big step in his career. The problem lies elsewhere. There is, so far, a shortage of suitable offers. Interest exists, but not yet at the level or from the clubs that would trigger a deal Leverkusen can accept.

Then there is Andrich. At 31, he is the known quantity, the steady hand. As things stand, all signs point to him staying. In a summer that has suddenly become more complicated, his experience and reliability gain extra weight. With Eichhorn out, Andrich’s chances of remaining in the core rotation have strengthened rather than weakened.

From Hertha breakout to Leverkusen setback

Eichhorn’s situation feels particularly cruel because of the trajectory he had built. Last season, the teenager established himself as a regular at Hertha BSC in the 2. Bundesliga, stepping into senior football with a composure that belied his age. He was not spared the rough edges of the professional game – an ankle injury cost him games, and a red card brought a suspension – but those bumps only underlined how quickly he had become important.

Scouts across Europe took notice. Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all tracked him, viewing the midfielder as one of the most exciting talents of his generation. This was not quiet admiration; this was a race.

Leverkusen won it, securing his signature for nine million euros. The fee underlined both belief and expectation: a teenager priced not as a project for tomorrow, but as a player who could contribute soon and grow into something far bigger.

Now, the timeline has been shattered.

An open question for club and player

For Leverkusen, the immediate priority is clear: Eichhorn’s health comes first. The medical team will dig into the metabolic illness, search for answers, and try to restore the physical base that made him so compelling in the first place. Only once that foundation is secure will anyone dare to talk about minutes, roles or systems.

From a sporting perspective, though, the club walks a tightrope. They cannot plan on Eichhorn’s presence in the first half of the season. They also cannot afford to forget why they signed him. Every decision on Fernandez, Garcia and Andrich now carries the shadow of a player who was meant to be central to the medium-term project, yet currently cannot be factored into the equation.

For Eichhorn himself, the story pauses at a frustrating chapter. He has already shown he can handle senior football. He has already convinced some of Europe’s biggest clubs that he belongs in their conversations. He has already earned a move that many players his age only dream of.

When he will be able to make his breakthrough at Leverkusen, though, is completely open. And that uncertainty now hangs over both a young career and a club that built part of its future around him.