Chelsea are reportedly the favourites to snap up Bayer Leverkusen attacker Kerim Alajbegovic, who played for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Alajbegovic, 18, turned heads with his excellent displays at the recently concluded quadrennial tournament. He started three of his four FIFA World Cup appearances, scoring once in a 3-1 Group B victory against Qatar.
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Now, according to The Telegraph, Chelsea are in pole position to permanently sign Alajbegovic in the ongoing summer transfer window. They are likely to face little to no competition from the likes of Juventus and Atalanta.
New Blues manager Xabi Alonso is believed to be enthusiastic to work with the ex-Koln youth star. The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner was at Bayer Leverkusen when the versatile star graduated from the club’s academy.
After shining at Bayer Leverkusen’s youth teams, Alajbegovic was sold to Red Bull Salzburg for around £1.7 million in the summer of 2025. He produced 13 goals and four assists in 44 total outings for the Austrian side last season before rejoining the German outfit for close to £3.4 million.
Now, the 14-cap Bosnia and Herzegovina player is reportedly valued at £30 million and could be a good signing for Chelsea. He would fill the void left by the potential exit of Aston Villa-linked attacker Alejandro Garnacho.
2026 FIFA World Cup star reveals why he joined Chelsea in record-breaking summer move
Earlier on Tuesday, England midfielder Morgan Rogers sealed a £117 million move to Chelsea from Aston Villa. He has penned a deal until June 2033 after registering two assists in six 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.
After joining, the ex-Manchester City youth player said (h/t Metro):
“I’m joining the biggest club in London. The way the club wants to go and how it wants to move forward, it is something that I want to be a part of and I think it was just perfect for me. I’m really excited about the project with the new manager, the players we’ve got and where the club is heading. That’s why I’m here and I can’t wait to get started.”
The 23-year-old, who is expected to start on the left flank for the Blues, contributed 31 goals and 29 assists in 125 overall outings for Aston Villa. He helped his former team notch the UEFA Europa League trophy last season, registering a goal and an assist in the 3-0 final win over Freiburg.
Edited by Debkalpa Banerjee