Chelsea agree personal terms with Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid
Alajbegović only returned to Bayer Leverkusen this year after the German club exercised a buyback clause to bring him back from Red Bull Salzburg, where he had been sent on loan last summer.
His breakthrough season in Austria yielded nine goals and three assists in 28 league appearances, with his overall tally across all competitions reported to be even higher, and he went on to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at this summer’s World Cup.
Chelsea are said to be hopeful of agreeing a deal worth around €42 million including bonuses, though the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement on the fee.
The Telegraph had previously reported that Chelsea were leading the chase for Alajbegović, fending off interest from a lengthy list of suitors that reportedly includes Aston Villa, Atalanta, Newcastle United, AC Milan, Napoli and AS Roma, with Italian clubs said to remain in contact over a possible move.
Alajbegović’s contract at Leverkusen runs until 2031, but the German club appear open to a quick sale given the scale of the offers being discussed, only months after bringing him back from his loan spell. His rapid rise from a squad player on loan in Austria to a wanted man across three of Europe’s top leagues reflects how highly his potential is regarded, even before he has made his senior debut for Leverkusen itself.
Personal terms being in place with Chelsea gives the London club an advantage over their Italian rivals, though the transfer will ultimately hinge on Leverkusen accepting a fee close to their valuation of the teenager.
Born in Cologne, Alajbegović came through Leverkusen’s own academy having previously spent time with 1. FC Köln, before being sold to Salzburg for a modest fee last summer when the club felt there was no clear route into their first team.
That decision was reversed within a year once his form in Austria made clear he had outgrown the level, and Leverkusen now find themselves in position to make a significant profit on a player who is yet to feature for their senior side at all.
