In a bold transfer coup, Bayer Leverkusen has cashed in on their teenage prospect Kerim Alajbegovic in a deal worth at least €30 million—plus potential bonuses—sending the 18-year-old to Juventus in Serie A. The Bosnian winger, who made his mark at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with four appearances and a goal, never featured in an official match for Leverkusen, yet his transfer value has skyrocketed.
This transaction marks Leverkusen’s second major profit on Alajbegovic. The club previously sold him to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria last summer for €2 million, with an €8 million buy-back clause that was later triggered. After impressing in Salzburg—racking up 44 appearances, 13 goals, and four assists across all competitions—the young star has now moved to Italy’s powerhouse for a fee that sets a new benchmark.
Why Leverkusen decided to let Alajbegovic go
Simon Rolfes, Leverkusen’s sporting director, shed light on the club’s reasoning: “After his development in our youth system, Kerim took another significant step forward at Salzburg. However, with intense competition at his position within our squad—especially with recent signings like Afonso Bastardo Moreira (€29.5m from Olympique Lyon) and Eliesse Ben-Seghir (21)—we had to make a realistic assessment. Given the overall transfer package, we agreed to his move to Italy.”
Alajbegovic’s versatility—capable of playing on either wing or as an attacking midfielder—would have put him in direct competition with Leverkusen’s other creative talents, including Malik Tillman and Ibrahim Maza, further influencing the decision.
Chelsea’s higher offer wasn’t enough to sway the young star
Despite reports suggesting Chelsea tabled a €40 million bid—the highest offer on the table—Alajbegovic opted for Juventus. Sources close to the deal reveal the Italian giants’ promise of an immediate starting position played a decisive role in his choice over England’s Premier League, where former Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso now coaches.
With this transfer, Alajbegovic becomes the most expensive teenager (under 19) ever sold by the Bundesliga, surpassing the previous record held by Renato Sanches, who joined Bayern Munich from Benfica for €35 million in 2016.
His move underscores a growing trend in European football: clubs are increasingly willing to invest in raw talent, even if those players have yet to prove themselves in their own ranks. For Leverkusen, it’s a financial triumph; for Juventus, a high-risk, high-reward gamble on a player with World Cup experience and burgeoning potential.
