Who is Jonjoe Kenny?

Jonjoe Kenny

Age: 25
Club: Hertha Berlin
Position: Full-back
Country: England (56 caps up to and including U21 level)

Key stats

Kenny spent 16 years at Everton, prior to his switch to Hertha in summer 2022. He made his top-flight debut with the Merseyside club as a 19-year-old in May 2016, followed by a further 68 senior appearances in all competitions. The 5'9" full-back is a two-time U21 Premier League winner, and helped Wigan Athletic to the 2015/16 League 1 title (England's third tier). There were further loan stints with Oxford United, Celtic and Schalke along the way, his first spell in Germany being the most productive of the bunch.

Kenny turned out 31 times in the 2019/20 Bundesliga for Die Knappen, producing two goals and three assists. He opened his account against Hertha on only his third German top-flight appearance, and later scooped the August 2019 Rookie of the Month award. In the team statistics department across the season, the England U17 European and U20 World champion ranked sixth for challenges won; fourth for most sprints and intensive runs; third for distance covered and second for attempted crosses.

Watch: Skip to 1:38 to see Jonjoe Kenny's first Bundesliga goal

Plays a bit like: Philipp Lahm

By his own admission, Kenny models his game on Bayern Munich and Germany legend Philipp Lahm - and it shows. An industrious, heart-on-the-sleeve type of player, the Liverpudlian is a relentless runner in the right-back position. He's not afraid to get forward and put balls into the opposition box, and has even operated as an effective left-back - Lahm's first role before becoming the world's best on the opposite flank.

Did you know?

Kenny qualifies for the Republic of Ireland under FIFA's grandparent rule. Should he choose to switch allegiance to the Emerald Isle - he won his last England cap as an U21 in June 2019 - the Everton Supporters' Club 2017/18 Young Player of the Season would be only the fifth Irishman to play in the Bundesliga and first to pull on a Hertha shirt. To date, Mark Farringdon is the only English national to have represented the Old Lady (1990/91).

What they're saying

"Jonjoe is a player that will bring some fresh impetus and pace into our game. He's gained experience in both the Premier League and the Bundesliga, plus he still has the potential to develop further aged just 25." - Hertha sporting director Fredi Bobic

"I don't want to make him just a local lad with a big heart - Jonjoe's a very good player. I saw that from the moment we've been here, I knew that from before. When you've got lads like that in the group they help." - Everton head coach Frank Lampard

"I think it's one of the best moves a young British player can make in Europe if he is not able to break through in his own team in the Premier League. To go to the Bundesliga, you have to be – and luckily Jonjoe is – very brave, because when you leave your home country and you leave your comfort zone you have to have a very strong character. He was one of our signings of the summer, and is close to becoming a fan favourite." - former Schalke head coach David Wagner