Don’t be fooled by the smile: Jonathan Burkardt has a killer instinct in front of goal. - © Boris Streubel/Bundesliga

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Jonathan Burkardt: Who is the Germany international striker ready to star at Eintracht Frankfurt?

09.06.2025

Following a goal-filled 2024/25 campaign at Mainz, Jonathan Burkardt is now set to star for an attack-minded Eintracht Frankfurt side. He's also an intriguing character away from the pitch - allow bundesliga.com to fill you in...

Data correct as of 4 July 2025

Jonathan Burkardt

Age: 24 (born 11 July 2000)
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Position: Striker
Country: Germany (three caps)

Key stats

Having captained Mainz to one of the greatest seasons in club history - with his 18 goals taking them into sixth and securing UEFA Conference League qualification, Burkardt bade an emotional farewell to the club he played for over seven Bundesliga seasons to link up with Frankfurt ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Watch: All of Burkardt's 2024/25 Bundesliga goals

Burkardt started his youth career at hometown club Darmstadt 98 before making the 45-minute journey across the Rhine to join Mainz at the age of 14. He made his senior debut on Matchday 3 of the 2018/19 Bundesliga campaign in a 2-1 win over Augsburg.

The then 18-year-old lasted the entire 90 minutes of the victory and made a total of four senior appearances that season.

The following term also saw Burkardt split his time between Mainz's U19s, reserves and senior side as he featured eight times in the Bundesliga and also made his DFB Cup bow. A maiden first-team strike came on Matchday 32 of 2019/20, with Burkardt opening his account after 33 minutes of a famous 2-0 win at Borussia Dortmund that went a long way to securing Mainz's survival.

Two goals in 29 Bundesliga appearances followed in his third season of professional football, with both goals coming against record champions Bayern Munich.

Having hit a personal best of 11 goals in 2021/22, a lengthy knee injury curtailed his development in the following two seasons - by sidelining him for a year between November 2022 and November 2023.

A fit-again Burkardt showed just what he can do in the following campaign by smashing his way to his best-ever goals tally of 18 in 2024/25.

A call-up to the senior international side always seemed a natural progression for Burkardt, who has represented his country at every youth level from the U15s up. He lifted the UEFA European Under-21 Championship trophy in summer 2021 and was subsequently made captain of the side. His first full international involvement indeed came in a UEFA Nations League match in Bosnia in October 2024.

Burkardt's barnstorming form in 2024/25 earned him a first-ever call-up to the senior Germany side. - IMAGO/Hasan Bratic/DeFodi Images

Plays a bit like: Serhou Guirassy

Capable of operating as a playmaking forward, Burkardt's sheer hunger for goals makes him more comfortable in an out-and-out centre-forward position similar to the Dortmund striker.

At 5'11", he's not as tall as the Guinea international, but Burkardt more than makes up for that with an exquisite finishing ability that has seen him serve up many special strikes already in his career.

Did you know?

Burkardt never drinks beer and also completely avoids social media. He once described it as a “make-believe world with feedback that is far too positive on the one hand, but totally negative on the other.

"People want to show the perfect image of themselves there. I don't have to have that. I've done quite well without social media. I miss nothing, and I don't get distracted.”

What they're saying

"I was shown a clear sporting pathway and I was immediately enthusiastic about it. I'm very happy to now be part of Eintracht Frankfurt and I'm really looking forward to playing for this special club from the coming season." - Burkardt on joining Frankfurt

"Jonny has many qualities that will benefit our game. He underlined his strong finishing skills in Mainz as well as his tactical understanding. He is very much a team player on and off the pitch." - Frankfurt board member for sport Markus Krösche.

"What a man, what a player, I'm proud. He is of course also a leader for us. A player we always trust. He wants to do everything for this club.” - Mainz coach Bo Henriksen after Burkardt's impressive 2024/25 season