Juventus Beat Chelsea to Signing Bayer Leverkusen's Kerim Alajbegovic with €40m Offer

Juventus has reportedly emerged victorious over Chelsea in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacker Kerim Alajbegovic. While reports suggest the deal is close, some indicate the player's final approval is still pending before he moves to the Serie A club.

Chelsea's Pursuit of Kerim Alajbegovic

Chelsea's interest in Alajbegovic surfaced after a remarkable year for the player, whom Bayer Leverkusen had initially sold for a mere €2 million. The German native joined RB Salzburg in July 2025, with Leverkusen retaining a buyback option. By November, it seemed Leverkusen was set to exercise this option, as Alajbegović had already scored six goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances for Salzburg, with his market value soaring to an estimated €5 million.

Initial reports suggested Leverkusen could bring the winger back for around €5 million to €6 million, with later information indicating a figure closer to €8 million. Regardless, this represented a modest investment in a player whose development in Austria and rapid progress with the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team had significantly boosted his profile. At that point, Alajbegović was considered a potential cornerstone for Leverkusen's rebuilding efforts, appreciated for his versatility across the wings and central attacking areas.

However, the situation changed dramatically during the 2025/26 campaign. By the summer, Leverkusen had reacquired the youngster but was already open to selling him again before he could even make his senior debut for the club.

Chelsea appeared to be the frontrunners for Alajbegović's signature on July 23, with reports from Bosnia and Herzegovina and England suggesting the Premier League club had overtaken their rivals. German publication Kicker also corroborated these claims, reporting that the 18-year-old had submitted a transfer request.

Leverkusen's willingness to entertain offers was notable, especially considering they had previously seen Alajbegović as a key part of their future. Even with potential injury concerns surrounding Eliesse Ben Seghir, it might have been expected they would hold onto another versatile attacker.

Despite these considerations, the club's stance remained firm. Leverkusen recognized that Alajbegović's estimated market value had risen to €22 million, and his performances for Salzburg and Bosnia and Herzegovina presented an opportunity for a highly profitable transfer.

The transfer seemed poised to progress quickly. Chelsea possessed the financial capability to meet Leverkusen's demands, and Alajbegović's transfer request indicated his readiness to move on without first establishing himself at the BayArena.

The following day, Chelsea submitted an initial offer exceeding €30 million in guaranteed fees. Leverkusen aimed to secure a total package of approximately €40 million, including performance-related bonuses. This offer placed Chelsea ahead of other interested clubs, including Atalanta, Napoli, and Juventus, who had all seen previous bids rejected.

However, significant steps remained. Chelsea had not yet agreed on personal terms with Alajbegović, nor had they initiated concrete negotiations with his representatives. The player continued his individual training in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was still scheduled to join Leverkusen's preseason preparations.

Consequently, Chelsea's club-level agreement advanced rapidly but never reached the crucial stage of personal terms with the player. This gap allowed Juventus to step in.

The Italian giants subsequently reached a full agreement with Leverkusen for an initial transfer fee of €33 million, with potential performance-related bonuses pushing the total package to the €40 million sought by the Bundesliga club.

While Chelsea's approach helped define the deal's parameters and demonstrated the attainability of Leverkusen's valuation, Juventus ultimately moved ahead and secured the agreement with the German club.

For Leverkusen, this outcome represents exceptional asset management. Having sold Alajbegović for around €2 million, they reacquired him through an inexpensive buyback clause and are now set to receive up to €40 million without the player ever making a senior appearance for them.

Chelsea, on the other hand, ends up empty-handed despite appearing to lead the race at one point. Their failure to swiftly transition from an agreement with Leverkusen to finalizing personal terms with Alajbegović created the opening for Juventus to turn their sustained interest into a nearly completed transfer.