Jonathan Burkardt’s journey from a four-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt fan to the club’s latest signing represents one of the most compelling transfer stories of the summer, as the 25-year-old striker brings seven years of Bundesliga excellence to Deutsche Bank Park.
Frankfurt, Germany– The circle has come full circle for Jonathan “Jonny” Burkardt, who completed his move to Eintracht Frankfurt just days before his 25th birthday on July 11. The striker’s arrival at the ProfiCamp marks a homecoming of sorts – his very first football jersey was an Eintracht Frankfurt shirt, gifted to him on his fourth birthday 21 years ago.
“My first jersey was one of the Eintracht, I got it for my fourth birthday,” Burkardt revealed during his introductory podcast appearance on “Eintracht vom Main,” adding with characteristic humor, “The early eagle catches the worm, I thought.”
Seven Benchmarks of Excellence
1. The Professional Foundation
Burkardt’s professional journey began at Mainz 05, where he progressed through the youth system after joining at age eight. His dedication was evident from the start: “With three in the first club, with eight to Darmstadt 98 – I always wanted to play with the ball as a little boy. Football has always been my life’s purpose.”
After four years in the B and A junior Bundesliga, Burkardt signed his first professional contract in June 2018 at just 17 years old. His Bundesliga debut came quickly – in September 2018 under Sandro Schwarz against FC Augsburg, wearing the number 29 shirt and helping secure a 2-1 victory.
2. European Championship Glory
The 2021 U-21 European Championship victory stands as a career highlight. “Very special. At first, I was not so aware of the significance. It was a lot of fun and showed that great cohesion can do a lot,” Burkardt reflected. His leadership qualities were recognized when he was handed the captain’s armband for the DFB juniors in September 2021.
3. Rising Star Recognition
Burkardt’s breakthrough season earned him prestigious recognition when Kicker magazine’s annual poll of 234 voting professionals named him “promoter of the season” for 2021/22. Remarkably, he finished ahead of future stars Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, who placed second and third, respectively.
4. Record-Breaking Goalscorer
The 2024/25 season represented Burkardt’s peak performance: 18 goals and two assists for 20 total goal contributions in the Bundesliga – a new club record for Mainz 05. His 41 career Bundesliga goals, including eight headers, also set a new club milestone.
Most impressively, Burkardt was responsible for a third of all Mainz’s goals – the highest proportion among all Bundesliga players. His development trajectory shows consistent improvement:
- Goal participation rate per 90 minutes:
- 2018/19: 0.00
- 2019/20: 0.36
- 2020/21: 0.13
- 2021/22: 0.48
- 2022/23: 0.51
- 2023/24: 0.59
- 2024/25: 0.85
His shooting accuracy also improved dramatically, with an average shooting distance of 12.4 meters in 2024/25, achieving 0.23 goals per finish and 0.57 goals per shot on target.
5. The Complete Player
Sports Director Markus Krösche praised Burkardt’s versatility: “the way he plays football: high speed, high goal risk – and he can initiate dangerous situations.”
Burkardt’s passing statistics demonstrate his evolution as a complete forward. His long pass success rate jumped from 56-65% over five years to over 71% in the previous season. According to fbref statistics, he covered 5,726 meters with his passes last season – a personal best.
“Mario Götze is an attractive pass,” Burkardt noted, acknowledging his new creative teammate’s abilities.
6. International Experience
With 20 U-21 appearances and 15 goals, plus three senior caps for Germany, Burkardt brings valuable international experience. His connection with current Eintracht teammate Robin Koch has been particularly strong.
“Robin Koch has written to me again and again lately, we had closer contact,” Burkardt revealed, emphasizing “the sporting perspective” in Frankfurt and his desire to “arrive at the national team properly.”
7. Eintracht Knowledge
Burkardt’s familiarity with Eintracht extends beyond childhood fandom. During a chance encounter with former players Pirmin Schwegler and Mounir Chaftar in the city forest, he immediately identified them: “Chaftar, number 31, full-back. Schwegler, number 27, six.”
His preferred number? “He prefers to wear the nine.”
Looking Forward
As Burkardt prepares to celebrate his 25th birthday on July 11, his arrival represents more than just a transfer – it’s the fulfillment of a childhood dream and the continuation of a remarkable career trajectory that shows no signs of slowing down.
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