At Bayer Leverkusen, players returning from World Cup duty resumed training on Monday—but one teenager’s schedule remains deliberately limited. The club cannot risk a record-breaking transfer collapsing in the final stretch due to an avoidable injury.
Club sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed the Bosnian teenager would join his teammates, though long-term prospects at the Werkself now appear increasingly unlikely. A multi-million-euro deal, driven by intense competition between top European clubs, is all but finalized.
Chelsea had tabled the highest bid at €40 million for 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, an attacking midfielder. The offer matches Bayer Leverkusen’s valuation and would set a historic precedent: no Bundesliga club has ever spent or received more than €35 million for an under-19 player. The previous benchmark was set by Bayern Munich in 2016, when they paid Benfica around €35 million for Renato Sanches.
Alajbegovic: from unproven talent to headline-grabbing asset
The irony for Leverkusen? Alajbegovic has never made a single professional appearance for the club. Their €2 million sale to Red Bull Salzburg last summer came with an €8 million buy-back clause—one that Leverkusen activated after just six months. Salzburg’s investment in the teenager proved worthwhile: over 44 official matches, he scored 13 goals and provided four assists, despite early struggles with homesickness.
“For the first month and a half, I lived in a hotel, feeling incredibly lonely,” Alajbegovic admitted in a club interview. Once settled, his development accelerated dramatically. “I hate losing more than anything,” he confessed. “Sometimes I get overly aggressive—but I’ve learned to control it.”
His rapid rise caught the attention of Europe’s elite. Alajbegovic became Bosnia and Herzegovina’s youngest-ever debutant and starred in their World Cup playoffs against Wales and Italy. His standout moment? A stunning long-range strike against Qatar in the tournament proper. “His shooting technique, even from outside the box, is what truly sets him apart,” Rolfes enthused.
Juventus emerges as surprise frontrunner
Chelsea’s pursuit of Alajbegovic isn’t coincidental. Current coach Xabi Alonso, who previously managed Leverkusen, has long been familiar with the player’s abilities. However, Stamford Bridge’s recent €127 million acquisition of Morgan Rogers for the same position complicates matters—sources suggest Chelsea may immediately loan Alajbegovic again, possibly to Strasbourg (also under the Blue Group umbrella), a scenario he had previously dismissed.
This uncertainty has thrust Juventus into the spotlight. Italian media reports indicate a near-final agreement with the Old Lady valuing the deal at €33 million, with potential add-ons pushing the total to Chelsea’s €40 million. Crucially, Juventus claims Alajbegovic would feature regularly from day one—a key selling point for the 18-year-old.
While Chelsea, Juventus, or another late entrant could still claim the teenager, one outcome is certain: Leverkusen will rewrite Bundesliga history with a record transfer fee for a player with zero minutes under their belt.
