Eintracht Braunschweig have completed the loan signing of 18-year-old centre-forward Ken Izekor from Bayer 04 Leverkusen U19, bringing the Germany/Nigeria youth prospect into the 2. Bundesliga side’s first-team squad on a temporary deal. The transfer is registered as a loan transfer and is confirmed as a move from Leverkusen’s U19s to Braunschweig’s senior team, with the agreement beginning on 02/02/2026 and scheduled to end on 30/06/2026, when he is due to return to Leverkusen.
The move takes Izekor out of youth football and into the professional second tier in Germany, a clear step up in level and visibility. He joins Braunschweig as a left-footed centre-forward and will wear the number 38 shirt. The deal is officially listed as a loan transfer rather than a permanent sale, and his market value is currently not specified, underlining that this is a developmental move rather than a major financial transaction.
Contractually, the arrangement clarifies his medium‑term situation: Izekor is tied to Eintracht Braunschweig only for the duration of the loan and is already registered to return to Bayer 04 Leverkusen U19 at the end of the spell. Unless Leverkusen extend or alter his status, the end of the loan period could open the door for a change in his long‑term future, including the potential to become a free agent further down the line if no new agreement is reached at club level.
Born in Aachen and standing 1.77m tall, Izekor has come through the Bayer Leverkusen system after moving from Alemannia Aachen Youth to Bayer 04 Leverkusen Youth in 2018. He progressed internally from the youth ranks to Bayer 04 Leverkusen U17 in 2021 and then to Bayer 04 Leverkusen U19 in 2023, experiencing the German U19 Nachwuchsliga – Group H before this switch into the senior professional environment with Braunschweig in the 2. Bundesliga.
At international level he is eligible for both Germany and Nigeria, with his dual nationality giving his development added relevance for two different national-team setups. His main position is centre-forward, and he is listed as an attacking player capable of operating through the middle, adding another option in the final third for Braunschweig as they navigate the demands of the second tier.
Eintracht Braunschweig compete in the 2. Bundesliga, while Leverkusen’s U19 side play in the U19 DFB Nachwuchsliga. This loan therefore places Izekor on a broader stage than age-group football, with the possibility of regular minutes against seasoned professionals and the chance to accelerate his growth. For Braunschweig, the low‑risk nature of a loan transfer with no disclosed market value attached makes the deal an attractive way to bolster attacking depth without long‑term financial commitment.
With a clear loan start and end date already registered and a guaranteed return to Leverkusen U19 on 30/06/2026, the coming months at Braunschweig will be decisive in shaping perceptions of Izekor’s ceiling. Strong performances in the 2. Bundesliga could not only influence his standing at Bayer Leverkusen but also determine whether he moves on permanently or eventually enters the market as a free agent, making this confirmed spell at Eintracht Braunschweig a pivotal chapter in his emerging career.
