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SportsLeverkusen teen prodigy Eichhorn loses 5 kg in 5 days due to infection
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Bayer Leverkusen's 16-year-old midfield prodigy Kennet Eichhorn, signed for €9 million from Hertha BSC, has been sidelined by a severe gastrointestinal infection contracted immediately after pre-season training began. The illness caused him to lose over five kilograms in five days, leaving his body too weakened for team training. He is currently undergoing low-intensity individual training with rehab coaches, including light dribbling and short sprints. Eichhorn will miss the upcoming test match against Kickers Offenbach and is expected to rejoin full team training only in the following days. The junior national player is planned as a key figure in coach Carles Martínez's double pivot in a 4-3-3 system. Last season, he made his breakthrough with 17 second-division appearances for Hertha, attracting interest from top European clubs including Liverpool, Manchester City, PSG, Bayern, and Dortmund before choosing Leverkusen.
Source report
Leverkusen – The setback came even before the start. Bayer Leverkusen's new super teen, Kennet Eichhorn (16), has not been seen on the pitch with the team during the second week of preparation. Instead, he trains alone on the sidelines.
The reason for the individual training: The club is concerned about the midfield talent, who was signed for a transfer fee of €9 million from second-division club Hertha BSC.
Eichhorn Loses 5 Kilos in 5 Days
Immediately after the start of training for the factory club on Monday of last week, the young star contracted a gastrointestinal infection. Eichhorn was sidelined for the rest of the week. Within five days, he lost over five kilograms in weight.
As a result, joining team training is not yet being considered this week. The junior national player is being gradually built back up.
Midfielder Eichhorn initially only does short dribbles and sprints after the illness. Photo: IMAGO/Jan Huebner
He is training at low intensity — partly in the weight room at the BayArena, partly on the sidelines of the training ground with the rehab coaches. He dribbles with the ball between yellow and red poles, with the handbrake on. He shoots at small goals and performs very short sprints. More is not yet possible. His body was too weakened by the infection, and the fear of overexertion is too great.
Eichhorn will therefore also not play in the test match on Saturday against regional league club Kickers Offenbach. Only in the days after that is he expected to fully join team training and take up his position in central midfield. In the new 4-3-3 system of coach Carles Martínez (42), he is planned as a fixed presence in the double pivot.
Last season, Eichhorn made his breakthrough in Berlin, playing 17 games in the second division. Almost all of Europe's top clubs pursued him — including Liverpool, Manchester City, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund. He chose the sporting perspective with plenty of playing time at a top level in Leverkusen and signed a contract with Bayer until 2031.
Source
BILD - SportWestern
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Concern for Leverkusen's Super-Teen: Eichhorn Loses 5 Kilos in 5 Days Due to Infection