Juventus completed the acquisition of highly-rated winger Kerim Alajbegovi, outrivaling Chelsea for the signature of arguably Europe’s biggest young talent.
Alajbegovi, 18, officially joins the Serie A powerhouses from Bayer Leverkusen after an incredible emergence that has placed him among the most thrilling prospects in the sport.
Interest in Alajbegovi was also recorded from Chelsea, as new managerial appointee Xabi Alonso sought to bring in more potent forces into his attacking unit. The Bosnia & Herzegovina international was also tracked by compatriot North London club Arsenal.
Juventus moved swiftly, agreeing on an initial £ 33 million (28.2m) fee with an extra £7 million (6m) added to the deal, which is performance-related. A brilliant loan season last term with RB Salzburg saw the young attacker net 13 times, with 4 assists, across 44 appearances and helping the Austrian club secure passage into Europa League qualifying and the FB Cup semi-final.
Alajbegovi also drew the attention of many more after he became the youngest player to hit the back of the net from outside the penalty area, at the World Cup this winter. His awesome strike against hosts Qatar bagged a nomination for goal of the tournament. “It is time to open another chapter.
It makes me proud to have the chance to carry the shirt of Juventus,” said Alajbegovic.
Having inked a deal until the summer of 2031, Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes complimented his club for the education that the Bundesliga institution provides top-quality football stars and also expressed belief this was the correct solution for everyone.
