Chelsea Lead Race for €35m World Cup Sensation Kerim Alajbegovic

Chelsea have emerged as the frontrunners to sign teenager Kerim Alajbegovic from Bayer Leverkusen, with The media reporting the Blues are in pole position to secure the €35 million (£30 million) deal. The 18-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international caught the world’s attention at the 2026 World Cup, where he scored a stunning goal in a 3-1 group-stage victory over Qatar. That strike helped his nation reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history, before they fell to co-hosts United States in the last 32. Alajbegovic spent last season on loan at Red Bull Salzburg, netting 13 times, and is set to return to Leverkusen this summer. However, Chelsea — now managed by Xabi Alonso, who coached Leverkusen from 2022 to 2025 — are poised to beat Juventus to his signature. The media understands Alonso is excited about the prospect of working with the winger, who never played under the Spaniard at Leverkusen but was in the club’s youth ranks during Alonso’s tenure. Alajbegovic is viewed as a potential replacement for Alejandro Garnacho, who is widely expected to join Aston Villa on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the 2026-27 season. Chelsea have been active in the summer window, signing Morgan Rogers from Villa in a club-record €138 million (£117 million) deal and bringing in Marco Palestra from Atalanta for €55 million (£47 million). To fund Alonso’s plans, the Blues have sold Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos and Tyrique George to Real Madrid, Manchester United and Everton respectively.