Juventus’ €30 million gamble on Leverkusen’s Bosnian prodigy

On Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen announced that Juventus – the Old Lady – will pay €30 million to the Bundesliga side for 18‑year‑old Bosnian attacking midfielder Karim Alajbegovic, a player who has never made a professional appearance for the German club in senior competition.

Alajbegovic grew up in Bayer Leverkusen’s academy but did not feature in an official first‑team match until the middle of last year. The scarcity of senior minutes meant the 18‑year‑old left the German side without a Bundesliga debut.

When Bayer later sold him, the club kept a buy‑back clause. Alajbegovic moved to Red Bull Salzburg, where he quickly stood out in the Austrian league, recording 14 goal contributions in 36 matches and drawing interest from several European teams.

Bayer’s initial transfer fee was €2.5 million, with the buy‑back clause later exercised for €8 million in the first half of this year, shortly before the Bosnian earned a call‑up for the World Cup.

Juventus, often called the Old Lady, agreed to a €30 million fee for the midfielder, which could rise to €35 million if performance‑related bonuses are triggered. The sum represents a significant investment in a player who has yet to play a senior match for his former club.

Other clubs were reportedly ready to spend even more, but Juventus persuaded Bayer to finalize a permanent transfer during this window. Alajbegovic signed a contract with the Italian side that runs until 2031.

The deal will see Bayer Leverkusen earn a substantial windfall from a player who never appeared in a professional game for them, underscoring the German club’s ability to generate revenue through player development and savvy contract clauses.