Chelsea have made their move for one of Europe's most exciting young attacking prospects, with Kicker reporting that the Premier League club have submitted an opening offer for Bayer Leverkusen talent Kerim Alajbegovic.
The report suggests Chelsea are now firmly in the race for the Bosnian youngster, with a deal gathering momentum as negotiations between the two clubs accelerate. While there remains work to do before any transfer is completed, the early signs point towards Stamford Bridge becoming the most likely destination.
According to Kicker, Chelsea have already lodged an opening proposal worth more than 30 million euros as a guaranteed fee for the teenager.
The report explains that "Chelsea is willing to pay more than 30 million euros as a fixed sum" for the attacker, whose value has soared despite not making a competitive senior appearance for Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen's valuation appears clear. As Kicker states, "Leverkusen would agree to a sale for a total package of 40 million euros including performance related bonuses."

#kicker #million #opening #premier

Atalanta have missed their shot for Karim Alajbegovic, and more teams have joined the race, including Juventus, which are also defying Fenerbahce for Brazilian talent André, La Stampa reports.
Corinthians requested €17/18M plus €4M add-ons for 70 percent of the player’s card. The rest belong directly to him and his entourage, who are itching to move to Europe. He was close to Milan in January, but the transfer collapsed late. He notched 7 goals in 41 appearances last season.
The Bianconeri need to be decisive, though, as the competition from Turkey is strong. Instead, they have barely added anybody yet to focus on the exits. In the same role, they made a competitive offer for Frank Kessié, but they didn’t match his request and asked him to wait.
André isn’t the only youngster being chased by Juventus, as they are going after Alajbegovic as well. Atalanta were briefly in the lead, but Bayer Leverkusen raised their request after more sides are seriously eyeing him.
Fiorentina, Milan, and Napoli have also shown interest in the Bosnian starlet, La ***** one reports. However, the biggest threat comes from England. Chelsea have muscled their way into the fray and are currently the favorites, The Telegraph reports.

#brazilian

Real Madrid open to selling Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United, ******* nal eye John Stones and Ezri Konsa, Chelsea favourites for Kerim Alajbegovic, Yan Diomande back on radar of Premier League clubs and Daizen Maeda set for Ipswich Town move.
La Liga giants Real Madrid are open to selling 26-year-old France defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United. (Sun)
AS Roma and France midfielder Manu Kone, 25, and Brighton's 22-year-old Cameroon international Carlos Baleba are also being considered by Manchester United as they aim to strengthen their midfield. (Sky Sports)
Bournemouth's 27-year-old United States midfielder Tyler Adams, valued at about £35m, is also an option for Michael Carrick's side. (Mail)
Former Manchester City defender John Stones, 32, and 28-year-old Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa are among ******* nal targets as the Gunners turn to the England duo after an injury to France defender William Saliba, 25. (Sky Sports)

#midfielder #arsenal

Bosnian online portal Faktor – as relayed by transfermarkt.de – reports that Chelsea are in pole position to acquire Bayer Leverkusen attacking prospect Kerim Alajbegovic.
Kicker also lends credence to a report initially surfacing in Britain’s Telegraph concerning the youngster’s next possible destination. The German publication even claims the 18-year-old has already lodged a transfer request.
As noted in a recent Get German Football News piece on Alajbegovic, Leverkusen have no qualms about selling the youngster despite the fact that he was only recently re-acquired from RB Salzburg.
Matters could proceed quickly in this case.
Leverkusen originally sold the Köln-native to Red Bull Salzburg for approximately €2m in July 2025. The arrangement allowed the Bundesliga club to retain control over his future through a buyback clause. Alajbegovic subsequently enjoyed an excellent breakthrough year in Austria and represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup.

#alajbegovic #german #youngster #bayer

Chelsea have emerged as firm favourites to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s teenage sensation Kerim Alajbegovic. Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are in pole position to land the 18-year-old winger following his breakout performances for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Alajbegovic’s stock soared during the tournament after he scored a spectacular long-range goal in Bosnia’s 3–1 group-stage win over Qatar. At 18 years and 276 days, he became the youngest player to score from outside the penalty area at a World Cup since Kylian Mbappe in 2018. That historic strike earned him Man of the Match honours and put Europe’s top clubs on high alert.
Chelsea have identified Alajbegovic as a prime target who fits their long-term strategy of acquiring elite, high-potential domestic and international talent. While Serie A side Atalanta initially led the race ahead of Leeds United, Chelsea’s financial strength and readiness to meet Leverkusen’s asking price have shifted momentum decisively towards Stamford Bridge.
Bayer Leverkusen are open to selling the teenage attacker after recalling him from a stellar spell at Red Bull Salzburg, where he scored 13 goals and provided four ******* ists in a prolific 2025/26 campaign. Die Werkself are holding out for a fee of around £30 million.
With personal terms unlikely to be an obstacle, Chelsea are pushing to wrap up negotiations behind the scenes. Should a deal be completed, Alajbegovic would become the latest high-profile young international to join Chelsea’s ambitious project.

#World

Bosnia-Herzegovina face the United States at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in the early hours of Thursday morning in the World Cup last 32, targeting the most significant result in the nation’s football history.
Sergej Barbarez’s side reached this stage as one of the tournament’s best third-placed qualifiers, winning four points from a group that included Switzerland and Canada. Competing in the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time as an independent nation, the Dragons face a co-host on home soil — and arrive as clear underdogs, but with a squad containing enough Premier League and European experience to make this uncomfortable for the USA.
Barbarez receives a significant boost with the return of Tarik Muharemovic. The 23-year-old Sassuolo centre-back was suspended for the Qatar match after his red card against Switzerland, but serves his ban and is available here. His return restores Bosnia’s defensive backbone and gives Barbarez the experienced central pairing he needs against Balogun’s movement.
Amar Dedic is a doubt with a thigh problem. The Benfica right-back returned to training but has not been passed fully fit, and Amar Memic is expected to cover the position should Dedic not make it. No other injury concerns have been reported across the squad.
Edin Džeko captains the side at 40 years old, the veteran forward carrying 150 caps and 73 international goals into this knockout fixture. He was an unused substitute in the Canada opener before starting against Switzerland and Qatar, and leads Bosnia’s attack alongside Ermedin Demirović. Kerim Alajbegović operates from the right wing, having become one of the World Cup’s youngest scorers against Qatar.

Bosnia and Herzegovina World Cup song: Inside the catchy 'Take me to America' rock anthem lyrics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There's a new song making waves across the United States during the 2026 World Cup. It happens to hail from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the site of one of the tournament's greatest fairy tales.
The Dragons have enjoyed a historic run through the tournament, recording their first win and advancing to the knockout stages for the first time since becoming an independent nation. Those who have led the side — from captain Edin Dzeko to precocious youngsters Esmir Bajraktarevic and Kerim Alajbegovic — have become national icons. They've also helped inspire a track that has, in some ways, come to define the country, its supporters and its view of the United States — warts and all.
Odds are you've heard the famous chorus to "USA", the Bosnian song that pokes fun at the "American Dream." Here's what you need to know about the track's connection to Bosnia's national team and the fans embracing it.
2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

USA host Bosnia & Herzegovina this Thursday at the Levi´s Stadium of the World Cup. The match will be broadcast live at 01:00 on BBC One.
In their last encounter, USA were beaten 3-2 by Turkey (World Cup 2026). In their last match, Bosnia & Herzegovina prevailed 3-1 against Qatar (World Cup 2026).
The last meeting between the two teams ended with USA winning 1-0.
USA ( vs Turkey 2026-06-26): Matt Turner, Joe Scally, Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Giovanni Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi
Bosnia & Herzegovina ( vs Qatar 2026-06-24): Nikola Vasilj, Stjepan Radeljic, Nikola Katic, Arjan Malic, Sead Kolasinac, Esmir Bajraktarević, Ivan Basic, Ivan Sunjic, Kerim Alajbegovic, Ermedin Demirovic, Edin Dzeko

Bosnia-Herzegovina are on the verge of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time after beating 2022 hosts Qatar 3-1 in their final Group B match on Wednesday.
Bosnia move onto four points and are in a strong position to be one of the best eight third-placed teams to progress to the last 32.
Qatar meanwhile exit at the group stage, just as they did four years ago.
Goals from Bosnia's youngest ever World Cup player, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an own goal by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada looked to have put the European side in the box seat.
However, Qatar made a game of it when 35-year-old Hassan al-Haydos, their most capped player, pulled one back late in the first-half.

Kerim Alajbegovic has been linked with potential Serie A moves to Atalanta and Roma, so he showed what he can do with a stunning goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup.
The teenager is not set to reach his 19th birthday until September, but is already a sensation on the global football stage.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 24: Kerim Alajbegovic #19 of Bosnia and Herzegovina scores his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar at Seattle Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
He dribbled past two Qatar players and then smashed a screamer into the net from well outside the penalty area, giving Bosnia and Herzegovina the lead in this evening’s Group B game.
Bayer Leverkusen allowed the player to flourish in their youth academy, then sent him to RB Salzburg, where he scored 13 goals with four ******* ists in 44 competitive games this season.

Switzerland face Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina play Qatar as final round of group games begin
Bosnia 2-1 up through Alajbegovic stunner and Al-Brake own goal
Co-hosts Canada and Switzerland - both on four points in Group B - already well positioned to go through
Bosnia and Qatar both still in with chance of last-32 spot but must win
Find out who plays who in last 32 as it stands | Have changes made final group games unfair?