Chelsea lead the race to sign £30 million teenager on the back of impressive World Cup
Chelsea have already completed the British record transfer of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and confirmed the long-awaited signing of Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP, but their shopping for wide players and attacking midfielders might not be done just yet.
The Blues are also chasing Bosnia and Herzegovina youngster Karim Alajbegovic, who caught the eye at the World Cup after impressing in the Austrian league in the 2025-26.
Alajbegovic has emerged as one of the most in-demand young players in European football, with Chelsea understood to have seen off competition from several suitors in Italy’s Serie A to become the leading choice of destination for the 18-year-old.
Xabi Alonso ‘enthusiastic’ about Alajbegovic transfer
Winger Alajbegovic was called up for the World Cup squad with fewer than 10 senior caps to his name. The Cologne-born starlet soared through the age-group teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina, debuting for the under-15s just three years before his first team bow.
His lightning-quick trajectory now looks set to continue in club football too. He’s yet to play 30 senior league games but the Premier League is calling. According to The Telegraph, Chelsea’s pursuit is going to pay off.
“There are others interested in the player, including Juventus, but Chelsea now look the most likely to do the deal with Leverkusen,” reports Sam Wallace.
“[Xabi] Alonso was at Leverkusen when Alajbegovic came through the club’s development system although he is yet to make his professional debut for the team.”
Atalanta and Fiorentina have also been credited with an interest in the teenager, who spent five years at Leverkusen after playing the bulk of his junior football at Cologne.
He joined Red Bull Salzburg last summer without playing for Leverkusen’s first team but returned at the end of last season thanks to a very low buyback clause. The 18-year-old appears destined to move on again without playing a game.
“Alonso is understood to be enthusiastic about the move for Alajbegovic, with Alejandro Garnacho now on his way to Aston Villa,” adds Wallace.
Alajbegovic, who will turn 19 in September, came off the bench in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s draw with Canada at the start of the World Cup 2026 group stage and started all three subsequent matches.
The Leverkusen teenager showcased his technical ability by scoring his nation’s first goal in a 3-1 win over Qatar in Seattle, a result that took them through and set up a meeting with co-hosts the United States in the round of 32.
The World Cup was preceded by an excellent season in Austria, where Alajbegovic played 28 Bundesliga matches for Red Bull and scored nine league goals as his team finished one point short of the title.
