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David Tully Jul 23rd 2026
Chelsea are “favourites” to snap up Bayer Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegovic, according to reports.
The Telegraph claim that manager Xabi Alonso is “enthusiastic” about sealing the signature of the 18-year-old.
Alajbegovic did not make his senior debut under Alonso at Leverkusen, but he would have been aware of him coming through the youth ranks.
The teenager actually left the Bundesliga side last summer, shortly after Alonso’s departure, and he joined Red Bull Salzburg for just €2m.
However, Leverkusen kept a buyback option, which they triggered earlier this month, and they are now hoping to sell Alajbegovic for around £30m.
What do Chelsea fans need to know about the player?
You can read our full profile of the Bosnian international here, but to summarise, he has very little experience.
Alajbegovic has just one season of first-team football under his belt, having made his first appearance at senior level for Red Bull Salzburg against Norwegian side Brann in a Champions League qualifier exactly a year ago today (23rd July).
The forward would score his first goal just a few days later in an Austrian Cup tie against Union Dietach. He ended the season with 13 goals in all competitions.
Alajbegovic received his first senior cap for Bosnia in September last year against San Marino – a game in which he scored and provided an assist. He was also named in the squad for the World Cup, where he started three times, getting on the scoresheet during the 3-1 win over Qatar in the group stage.
Garnacho’s departure will pave the way for Alajbegovic
Aston Villa have agreed a loan deal for Alejandro Garnacho, but it includes an obligation to buy based on easily achievable conditions.
It means that the Argentinian international has effectively been sold less than a year after his £40m move from Manchester United.
Garnacho’s exit has likely prompted the Blues to step up their pursuit of Alajbegovic, who Alonso clearly approves of.
David Tully
David Tully
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for the Football News Network.