Chelsea Close in on World Cup Star Alajbegović as Leverkusen Set €30m Price Tag

Chelsea have surged to the front of the queue in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegović, with the 18-year-old Bosnian sensation emerging as one of the breakout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Blues are now widely regarded as the favourites to land the dynamic attacking talent, following a string of eye-catching performances that have sent shockwaves through European football. Alajbegović’s moment of magic came in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 3-1 win over Qatar in the group stage, where he unleashed a thunderous long-range strike that lit up social media and earned him instant cult status.

That performance, coupled with his consistent impact throughout the tournament, has triggered a feeding frenzy among top clubs. Atalanta initially led the chase, with Leeds United also in the mix, but Chelsea have since edged ahead — though no formal bid has yet been submitted.

Despite the growing interest, it’s still very much open season. Napoli and Juventus remain deeply interested, and both Italian giants are keeping a close eye on developments, ready to pounce if Chelsea falter or delay their move.

Leverkusen, who re-signed Alajbegović in March 2026 using an €8 million buy-back clause, are now preparing to cash in on the prodigy they only recently reclaimed. The Bundesliga side is demanding a cool €30 million for the winger, reflecting the premium placed on his burgeoning reputation.

With Leverkusen eager to capitalise on the surge in demand — and Alajbegović’s future expected to be settled swiftly — the window for action remains narrow. While Chelsea are seen as the frontrunners, the situation remains fluid, and the battle for one of football’s most promising young talents could go down to the wire.