Juventus have officially secured the services of Kerim Alajbegović, bringing the 18-year-old attacking midfielder to Turin from Bayer Leverkusen. The teenager has committed his future to the Bianconeri by signing a long-term contract that runs until 2031.
While neither club has publicly disclosed the financial terms of the transfer, reports from Germany and Italy suggest a guaranteed fee exceeding €30 million. With the inclusion of performance-related add-ons, the total value of the deal could rise toward the €40 million mark.
The move represents a successful capture for Juventus, who faced significant competition for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international. Chelsea, Napoli, and Atalanta were all reportedly in the running for his signature. Chelsea were considered the most persistent suitors, with reports indicating that former Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso had even made a personal pitch to the player. However, the Premier League side ultimately struggled to offer the same promises regarding immediate first-team involvement, particularly following their acquisition of Morgan Rogers. The guarantee of a regular role in the senior squad in Turin was ultimately the decisive factor in the negotiations.
Alajbegović, who was born in Germany, is a product of the Bayer Leverkusen youth academy. He had previously moved to RB Salzburg last summer, but his rapid development led Leverkusen to trigger a buy-back clause to bring him back to the club earlier this summer. His departure to Juventus comes just weeks after that return, meaning he leaves the German side without having made a single competitive senior appearance, marking a highly profitable piece of business for Bayer Leverkusen.
