AS Roma will reportedly look to sign 18-year-old Bosnian winger Kerim Alajbegovic from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Italian outlet AS Roma Live, Kerim Alajbegovic is the subject of interest from AS Roma. Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Manchester United are also keen on signing the Bosnia and Herzegovina international ahead of the 2026/27 season. The teenage prospect will return to Bayer Leverkusen from Red Bull Salzburg in a deal worth €8 million this summer, and his price tag has soared to €25-30 million.
Who is Kerim Alajbegovic?
Kerim Alajbegovic has established himself as one of the world’s most promising young attacking prospects since joining Red Bull Salzburg from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. Born in Koln, the 18-year-old spent most of his formative years thus far in Germany, starting his youth career with FC Koln before rising through the ranks at Bayer Leverkusen.
The Bosnian winger has been excellent in the 2025/26 season thus far, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions. Alajbegovic’s exploits have compelled Bayer Leverkusen to exercise the buyback option and bring him back to BayArena for €8 million after the ongoing campaign. Meanwhile, the youngster’s progress has alerted several high-profile clubs, including AS Roma, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
High in demand
AS Roma will dip into the market for a versatile attacker this summer, as Gian Piero Gasperini wants more firepower in the final third. While the Serie A giants have made gradual progress under the Italian tactician’s tutelage, they need more productivity from the flanks. So, it is hardly surprising that Frederic Massara is pushing to beat Premier League clubs to his signature.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s interest in Kerim Alajbergovic is surprising. The Blues have several wide attackers in their squad, and Geovany Quenda will arrive at Stamford Bridge after the 2025/26 season. So, unless they sell at least one winger this summer, Alajbegovic may get lost in the shuffle.
As for Manchester United, they can provide more game time to the Bosnian winger, as Michael Carrick has only three wide attacking options in his squad. While Alajbegovic may initially be a backup player, he has the potential to become a first-choice starter for Manchester United. As for Aston Villa, the West Midlands club’s output from the flanks has been unsatisfactory.
The Villans have been over-dependent on Morgan Rogers in the final third, and signing a promising winger like Alajbegovic will be a step in the right direction. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen’s asking price of €25-30 million adds to the 18-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international’s appeal, and he may become a bargain buy years down the line if he continues on his current trajectory.