Chelsea agrees personal terms with Kerim Alajbegović, decision now depends on negotiations with Bayer
Chelsea have taken an important step towards the possible signing of Kerim Alajbegović, one of the most prominent young players from the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to information from Italian transfer journalist Nicolò Schira, the London club have agreed personal terms with the 18-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international, with the proposed contract expected to run until the summer of 2033. However, such an agreement does not mean that the transfer has been completed because Chelsea must still reach an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen, the club that holds a valid contract with the player. Neither Chelsea nor Bayer had issued official confirmation of the transfer by 26 July 2026, meaning that the entire deal must still be viewed as being at an advanced stage of negotiations rather than as a completed transaction. Alajbegović's name is not currently included on Chelsea's official list of arrivals during the summer transfer window.
Schira stated that Alajbegović had accepted the terms of a long-term contract from Stamford Bridge and that Chelsea were preparing to complete negotiations with Bayer. Media reports regarding a possible transfer fee are not entirely consistent: some reports mention different amounts and bonus structures, while other sources claim that discussions have not yet reached the stage of a final offer. For that reason, it is currently impossible to state the final value of the deal reliably. What can be confirmed is that Bayer hold a strong negotiating position because they brought Alajbegović back from Salzburg this summer and signed him to a contract running until 30 June 2031. If Chelsea want to complete the transfer, they will have to find a model that satisfies the German club while also establishing a clear development plan for a player who is only at the beginning of his senior career.
Bayer brought him back to Leverkusen after only one season in Salzburg
Alajbegović's club career over the past year has been unusually dynamic. In July 2025, Bayer Leverkusen allowed the then 17-year-old attacker to move to Red Bull Salzburg but included an option for his return in the agreement. In March 2026, the German club officially announced that it was activating that option and that the player would return to Leverkusen on 1 July. At the same time, it was confirmed that a five-year contract had been signed, meaning that Bayer did not merely bring the talented player back on a short-term basis but tied him to the club until the summer of 2031. Sporting director Simon Rolfes said at the time that Alajbegović had exceeded expectations in Salzburg and had very quickly developed into an important player for the Austrian club.
According to Bayer's official announcement from March, Alajbegović had played 36 competitive matches for Salzburg and scored 14 goals by that point. He featured in the Austrian league, European qualifiers and the UEFA Europa League, gaining experience in a very short period that he could not have obtained in youth football. Salzburg gave him the opportunity to play regular senior minutes, and the player responded with directness, dribbling, shots from outside the penalty area and the ability to move into scoring positions from the left side. On their official website, Bayer describe him as a 1.86-metre-tall attacker who can play on the left wing and as an attacking midfielder. This combination of technical ability, physical potential and tactical versatility explains why clubs from several of Europe's strongest leagues began to take an interest in him.
His return to Leverkusen was initially presented as the next stage of his development. After the contract was announced, Alajbegović said that he knew the club, its high ambitions and its tradition of developing young players. Nevertheless, his strong performances at the World Cup further increased his market value and opened the possibility of another transfer before he had even managed to play an official senior match for Bayer. For the German club, such a situation represents both a sporting and a business decision. Bayer can keep the player and include him in the squad for the 2026/27 season, but they can also accept an offer that would produce a substantial profit after the activation of the return clause.
The World Cup turned him into an internationally recognised name
The greatest increase in interest in Alajbegović occurred during the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Bosnia and Herzegovina completed the group stage with a 3-1 victory over Qatar in Seattle, with the young winger scoring the opening goal in the 29th minute. FIFA highlighted his performance as one of the main stories of the match, and Alajbegović was named player of the match. The goal, scored with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, was not only important to the result but also placed him in the competition's historical statistics. According to FIFA data, he became the eighth-youngest goalscorer in World Cup history.
FIFA also stated that Alajbegović, at 18 years and 276 days old, became the youngest player to score from outside the penalty area at a World Cup. Such a moment had a powerful impact on his international status because it showed that he could establish himself even on the stage carrying the greatest pressure. Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the knockout stage, further extending the period during which he was watched by scouts and sporting directors from the biggest clubs. Alajbegović appeared in four matches at the tournament, starting three of them, and his performances were not limited to the goal against Qatar. He attracted attention with his courage in one-on-one situations, his willingness to demand the ball and his ability to move from a wide position towards the centre of the pitch.
Such a profile is particularly valuable in modern football, where wingers are expected simultaneously to create numerical advantages, participate in pressing and provide a threat in the final third. Alajbegović is still far from being a fully developed player, and his age requires caution when making assessments, but the combination of his club performances in Salzburg and confirmation at the World Cup has created a convincing pattern of progress. Chelsea would therefore not be buying a player solely on the basis of potential shown in youth football, but a young international who already has experience in European matches and at the biggest international tournament. At the same time, a move to the Premier League would bring significantly greater competition, physical demands and pressure for results than he experienced in Austria.
The connection with Xabi Alonso gives the transfer additional context
Chelsea's interest carries additional significance because of Xabi Alonso, who officially took charge of the London side on 1 July 2026. Chelsea confirmed in May that the Spanish coach had signed a four-year contract, after previously working at Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid. Alonso knows Leverkusen's player development system well, while Alajbegović was part of Bayer's academy during the period when Alonso worked at the German club. Although there has so far been no official statement from the Chelsea coach confirming that he personally requested this transfer, several media reports have linked the London club's interest specifically to Alonso's knowledge of the player and his development path. That connection makes the story more convincing, but it does not constitute proof that an agreement between the clubs has already been reached.
In recent years, Chelsea have frequently invested in young players and signed them to long-term contracts in order to retain control over their development and future market value. The club have continued with this approach this summer, with the official website stating that Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda signed contracts lasting until 2033 and 2034 respectively. A contract for Alajbegović until 2033, as mentioned by Schira, would therefore fit into the existing squad-management model. Nevertheless, the length of the contract is only one part of the deal. The key question would be whether the 18-year-old would immediately compete for a place in the first team, go out on loan or remain in Leverkusen for a certain period through a specially structured agreement.
Media outlets in England report that several development options are being considered in the event of a transfer, including the possibility of a loan. Such a scenario would not be surprising because Chelsea already have a large number of young attacking players, while Alajbegović needs regular minutes to continue his development. His strong season in Salzburg showed how quickly he can improve when he has a clearly defined role and continuity. In contrast, entering overly crowded competition too early could slow down a process that has so far been highly successful. The final decision will therefore probably involve not only the size of the transfer fee but also a precise plan for the 2026/27 season.
An agreement with the player is not the same as a completed transfer
In transfer negotiations, an agreement on personal terms usually means that the club and the player have agreed on the basic elements of the future contract, such as the duration of the cooperation, salary and possible bonuses. However, a player under a valid contract cannot change clubs without the consent of his current employer. In Alajbegović's case, Bayer hold a contract until 2031 and are under no immediate pressure to sell. Chelsea must therefore agree on a transfer fee, the payment structure, bonuses and possible additional clauses before the player could undergo a medical examination and sign the documents. Until those steps have been completed and the clubs announce the transfer, negotiations may stall or change direction.
Additional uncertainty is created by differing information from transfer sources. Schira claims that personal terms have been agreed and that Chelsea are moving towards the final stage of the deal, while other journalists have reported that talks with Bayer are continuing but that there is still no final agreement on the price. Some reports also mention interest from Italian clubs, with Atalanta, Juventus and Fiorentina most frequently named. For that reason, Alajbegović's future is not completely settled even if he has given preference to Chelsea. Clubs interested in the player can still change their offers, while Bayer may decide that they do not want to sell him for an amount that does not match their valuation.
It is also important that Alajbegović only formally became a Bayer player again on 1 July under the new five-year contract. The German club announced his return as a sporting investment rather than as a sale prepared in advance. On the other hand, the sudden increase in interest after the World Cup may have changed the market circumstances. If Chelsea offer an amount that Bayer consider difficult to reject, the sale would provide Leverkusen with substantial revenue and enable further investment in the squad. If such an offer does not arrive, Alajbegović can remain at a club that knows him well and has already publicly assigned him a place in its future project.
What Alajbegović could bring to Chelsea
Alajbegović's natural position is on the left side of the attack, from where he can attack the space towards the centre and look for a shot with his right foot. Bayer state that he can also play as an attacking midfielder, giving the coach the possibility of using him in different systems. His height of 1.86 metres distinguishes him from the traditional shorter and extremely explosive wingers, but his game is not based only on physical characteristics. In Salzburg, he demonstrated an instinct for making well-timed runs, composure with the final action and a willingness to take responsibility. His goal against Qatar additionally highlighted the quality of his long-range shooting, an element that can be important against opponents who defend deep.
For Chelsea's team under Alonso, such a player could be useful as a wide forward, an inverted winger or an attacking midfielder between the lines. In his first official appearances as Chelsea coach, Alonso emphasised the need for energy, a competitive mentality and a clear collective idea. Alajbegović's development so far shows that he can adapt to changes in environment, but only training sessions would reveal how quickly he could respond to the demands of a new system. The Premier League does not give young players much time to adapt, particularly at a club with high expectations and a large number of options in attacking positions. A carefully selected loan or gradual introduction could therefore be just as important as the transfer itself.
For the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, Alajbegović's development at one of Europe's leading clubs would also carry great significance. At only 18 years of age, he has already become one of the symbols of a new generation, while his goal at the World Cup gave him the status of a player expected to have an important long-term role. Such expectations must remain proportionate to his age and experience. A transfer to Chelsea would be a major recognition, but it would not automatically guarantee regular playing time or the continuation of his rapid rise. At this stage of his career, where he will play and how he will develop are more important than merely the name of the club with which he will sign a contract.
Official confirmation remains the only sign that the deal has been completed
As of 26 July 2026, the available information indicates that Chelsea are seriously interested, that talks with Bayer are active and that, according to Schira's report, an agreement has been reached with the player on a contract until 2033. Nevertheless, the official websites of the two clubs still contain no confirmation of the transfer. Chelsea list other completed deals in their current overview of summer arrivals but not Alajbegović, while Bayer continue to list him as a first-team player following his return from Salzburg. This is the most important dividing line between strong transfer information and a completed deal.
The next step must be an agreement between the clubs on the financial and sporting terms. Only after that can a medical examination, the signing of the contract and an official presentation follow. Until then, it remains uncertain whether Alajbegović will immediately move to London, continue his development in Leverkusen or join another club that has shown interest. His performances in Salzburg and at the World Cup have secured him a strong negotiating position, but the final decision now depends on the clubs. According to the available reports, Chelsea are currently the closest club to the player, but the transfer cannot be considered complete until it is officially confirmed by Stamford Bridge and Bayer Leverkusen.
Sources:
- Nicolò Schira, reported by SCSport - claim regarding agreed personal terms and a contract until 2033 (link)
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen - official confirmation of the activation of the return option from Salzburg and a contract until 2031 (link)
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen - information about Alajbegović's development, appearances and goals in Salzburg (link)
- FIFA - report and interview following Bosnia and Herzegovina's victory over Qatar at the 2026 World Cup (link)
- FIFA - statistical information about Alajbegović as the youngest goalscorer from outside the penalty area at a World Cup (link)
- Chelsea FC - official confirmation of the appointment of Xabi Alonso as first-team coach (link)
- Chelsea FC - official overview of arrivals, departures and new contracts during the 2026 summer transfer window (link)
- CaughtOffside - reported information from Fabrizio Romano about talks between Chelsea and Bayer and the absence of a final agreement on the transfer fee (link)