Kerim Alajbegovic's future is still unsettled, with Chelsea in contact with Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus still in the race and Italian clubs continuing to circle. Fabrizio Romano said talks are ongoing and, crucially, that Alajbegovic has not decided his future. Chelsea can also not guarantee him significant first-team football this season, which keeps the move from feeling close.
Chelsea's pitch and the playing-time issue
The clubs involved are easy enough to identify. Chelsea are said to be willing to pay €40 million, with some reports adding bonuses, while Juventus are reported to be preparing an offer worth around €35 million. Romano also said there is no £34m bid at present and that the fee being discussed is lower. Those are not small differences, and they explain why this is still more negotiation than conclusion.
The harder part for Chelsea is the sporting case. Xabi Alonso cannot promise Alajbegovic a clear route to significant minutes this season, and that is the obvious wrinkle in the sale. Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League in 2025 and are 6th in the current 2026 table, so the club can sell a project, but not a settled pathway.
The fee reports keep moving
The price story has been messy from the start. Atalanta walked away after refusing to go above €30 million, Sky Sports Deutschland claimed Juventus had agreed a €33 million deal plus €7 million in add-ons with Bayer Leverkusen, and other reports have pushed the valuation higher still. The clean read is not that one number has won out, but that the market has not settled on a final figure.
That is where Juventus stay relevant. They finished 6th in Serie A in 2025, which gives them the same basic problem as Chelsea, a need to improve without wasting time on a dead end. Their presence keeps the deal live, and it also stops Chelsea from behaving as if they already have the player. Bayer Leverkusen finished 6th in the 2025 Bundesliga, so they are under no obligation to move quickly or cheaply.
Romano's line still sums up the state of play best: "Chelsea are in contact with Bayer Leverkusen for Kerim Alajbegović, talks ongoing." Another part of his update was even more direct: "Alajbegović yet to decide his future with Italian clubs and Chelsea keen." Until that changes, this is a race with too many moving parts to call done.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →
