"He lives and breathes the game 24/7," Manuel Baum told bundesliga.com, and right now Hennes Behrens is being defined by exactly that kind of workload. The 21-year-old, born on 19 January 2005, has played every minute of FC Augsburg's 2026-27 campaign up to Matchday 4, with Klopp already rewarding his start to the season with a first senior Germany cap.

Baum's description of Behrens was even more specific: "When you watch him, he covers more than 12 kilometres a match; you simply can’t shake him off. He’s involved in every duel, always right there in the thick of it. He’s a high-energy, dependable team player you can always count on."

That kind of praise can sound routine when it comes from a club coach. In Behrens' case, it lines up with the way Augsburg are using him and the speed of his rise into the senior international setup.

Augsburg's early trust in Behrens

Behrens has not been eased in. He has been left on the pitch for every minute of Augsburg's first four league games, which tells you plenty about where he stands already.

It also helps that the team around him have started well. Augsburg have made a record start to the 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign and sit fourth with 7 points from 4 games. They have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1, scoring 11 and conceding 6.

A strong team start always gives a young player more visibility, but Behrens' own profile is doing the rest. Baum is selling him as an endurance player first, a left-back who keeps arriving in duels and keeps covering ground. That is a very modern job description, and it explains why he is drawing attention so quickly.

Benjamin Weber made a similar point to bundesliga.com when Augsburg brought him in. "He brings valuable Bundesliga experience at his young age and has already proven his qualities at this level. His physique and abilities make him a very good fit for our team."

The Heidenheim spell that sped this up

The jump has been quick, but it has not come from nowhere. Before moving in July, Behrens spent time with 1. FC Heidenheim, where he made 16 Bundesliga appearances and scored his first and only Bundesliga goal in a 3-3 draw with Leverkusen.

That matters to the Augsburg story because he arrived with top-flight minutes already behind him, not just academy promise. Frank Schmidt saw that growth at Heidenheim, telling bundesliga.com: "He’s developing steadily. He’s a player with real self-belief and the right attitude - someone who doesn’t hide, who steps forward and looks to take the initiative."

Behrens' route before this season also included his Bundesliga bow away to Leverkusen and a senior professional debut in a 4-3 UEFA Europa League win over Anderlecht on 30 January 2025. Augsburg were clearly signing a player further along than his age might suggest.

Klopp's Germany call has already arrived

Klopp did not wait long. He first named Behrens in a 44-man squad for the September/October international break, then gave him his senior debut against Greece in the UEFA Nations League.

That does not make him a guaranteed long-term answer for Germany, but it does show how seriously his start has been taken. Coaches can praise running power all they like, yet the more telling detail is selection. Behrens is already trusted by his club every week and has now been trusted once by the national team manager too.

One side note from Augsburg's opening month is that they have already faced 1899 Hoffenheim in this early run, and Behrens has stayed central to the team through the whole opening stretch.

At 21, he is still early in the story. What is already clear is the shape of it: every-minute football at Augsburg, more than 12 kilometres a match by Baum's account, and one senior Germany cap under Klopp before October is out.

FAQ

Why has Hennes Behrens broken into Germany's senior squad so quickly?

The case for Behrens is built around trust and output. He has played every minute of Augsburg's opening four Bundesliga matches, Manuel Baum says he covers more than 12 kilometres a game, and Jürgen Klopp first included him in a 44-man squad before giving him a senior debut against Greece in the UEFA Nations League.

What has Hennes Behrens done at Augsburg after leaving Heidenheim?

Behrens arrived at Augsburg in July and has gone straight into the side. He has played every minute of the club's 2026-27 campaign up to Matchday 4, while Augsburg sit fourth with 7 points from 4 games in what has been described as a record start to their Bundesliga season.

How experienced was Hennes Behrens before becoming an Augsburg regular?

He was not coming in cold. Behrens made 16 Bundesliga appearances for Heidenheim and scored his first and only Bundesliga goal in a 3-3 draw with Leverkusen. That previous top-flight run helps explain why Augsburg were ready to use him straight away.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →