Chelsea set to miss out on Alajbegovic as he reaches groundbreaking agreement with Juventus | OneFootball

Chelsea were reportedly keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen starlet Kerim Alajbegovic this summer ahead of several Serie A outfits.

The Blues wanted to bring him to Stamford Bridge to work with Xabi Alonso, who knows the youngster well from their time together in Germany.

However, according to Sky Italy, Chelsea will miss out on Alajbegovic, who has now chosen to join Juventus after they reached ‘a groundbreaking agreement’.

Apparently, per other reports, Chelsea could not guarantee the 18-year-old playing time and proposed a loan deal, which led him to choose the Italian giants.

Alajbegovic would have been a terrific option to have behind new Chelsea signing Morgan Rogers. They both do their best work in the left half space.

He had bagged nine goals and three assists (nine big chances created) in 28 Austrian Bundesliga appearances last season.

He carried that terrific form into the 2026 World Cup. The Bosnian talent scored a fantastic goal on the biggest stage before their early elimination from the tournament.

Chelsea never needed Alajbegovic

In reality, this may be the best outcome for everyone involved as Chelsea have left-wing depth.

They are already well stocked following the arrival of Rogers and the return of Jamie Gittens.

Meanwhile, highly-rated youngster Jesse Derry is expected to return from his loan spell next season, pushing for a place in the senior squad.

There is not a clear pathway for Alajbegovic at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have made a habit of stockpiling some of Europe’s brightest young talents, only for many to spend years bouncing between loan clubs.

That approach benefits nobody – not the club and certainly not the players.

Perhaps the Italian side can offer Alajbegovic a more straightforward development route.

Chelsea can focus on nurturing the elite prospects they already possess instead of adding another name to an already overcrowded pipeline.

The Blues also have other more pressing areas they need to spend money on.