Chelsea Return For Former Leverkusen Star Kerim Alajbegović
· Yahoo Sports
Kerim Alajbegović never played a competitive first-team game for Bayer Leverkusen. That hasn't stopped his value from exploding since he left.
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Just two months after Leverkusen sold the 19-year-old to Juventus, Chelsea are again being linked with the Bosnia international as his rapid rise continues in Turin.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are aware that Alajbegović's development could bring renewed interest from Chelsea and other Premier League clubs. The London side already tried to sign him over the summer, but Juventus won the race.
Made in Leverkusen.
Despite never featuring for the first team, Kerim Alajbegović spent several years in Die Werkself's academy before leaving for Salzburg in 2025. The move to Austria proved transformative. Alajbegović scored 13 goals and provided four assists in 44 appearances last season, and then enhanced his reputation with Bosnia at the World Cup.
Leverkusen had protected themselves against exactly that kind of development.
They retained an €8 million buyback option when Alajbegović moved to Salzburg and activated it this summer. But rather than bringing him back to compete for a place in the first team, Bayer immediately found themselves at the centre of a battle for his signature.
Chelsea wanted him. So did Juventus.
Alajbegović chose Turin.
Kerim Alajbegović to Juventus: HERE WE GOThe Italian giants secured Bosnia’s rising star for €35 million, fending off Chelsea’s late pursuit to finalize one of the summer’s most anticipated transfers from Bayer Leverkusen.Juventus eventually agreed to a deal with Leverkusen worth around €30 million plus bonuses, giving the German club a substantial return on a young talent who never made a senior competitive appearance for the club.
It looked like excellent business then. His first months in Italy have only made the story more interesting.
Alajbegović has quickly worked his way into Juventus' plans. Injuries created an early opportunity, but the Bosnian has done enough with it to remain involved, including a Serie A start against Milan and a European goal against NEC Nijmegen.
Juventus now view him very differently from the promising teenager they pursued during the summer.
Gazzetta reports that Alajbegović and Kenan Yıldız are regarded as two young players around whom Juventus wants to build its future. Despite the financial considerations surrounding the Italian club, there is currently little appetite to sacrifice either.
That matters if Chelsea return.
This would no longer be a race to sign one of Leverkusen's academy products before his breakthrough. Chelsea would be approaching Juventus for a player the Italian club have just spent heavily to acquire and already consider part of their long-term project.
His valuation has moved with him.
Reports in Italy now place Alajbegović in the €35 million to €40 million range, although Juventus have given no indication they would accept an offer at that level. Chelsea interest does not yet amount to a formal January bid.
From Leverkusen's perspective, there should be little regret about the financial side of the decision.
Die Werkself developed Alajbegović, allowed him to take the next step at Salzburg, protected themselves with a buyback clause, and then turned an €8 million return into a deal worth around €30 million plus bonuses.
There is a nice footnote to the Alajbegović story in Leverkusen.
Kerim Alajbegović's Brother: Bayer Leverkusen's New WonderkidAs Real Madrid and Manchester City circle, thirteen-year-old sensation Emre Alajbegović earns a historic Germany call-up, cementing his status as one of Europe’s most coveted midfield prospects.Kerim may be gone, but his younger brother Emre is still coming through Bayer's academy. The 13-year-old has already played above his age group and joined a German U15 training camp.
So while Kerim's career has taken him from Leverkusen to Salzburg and now to Juventus, the family still has a connection to the BayArena. There may yet be another Alajbegović for Bayer supporters to keep an eye on.
From here, the stage only gets bigger.