Goalscorer and hard worker: Alajbegovic and big steps in Salzburg

"Kerim Alajbegovic has not only fulfilled the high expectations placed in him in Salzburg, he has even exceeded them in a very short space of time," said Bayer 04 Managing Director Sport Simon Rolfes when the two-footed youngster signed a contract to 30 June 2031. It's true: his season so far in the neighbouring Alpine country has been impressive.

Debut in UCL qualifier – brace in Europa League

At the age of 17 and with no competitive appearances for the Leverkusen first team, Alajbegovic chose a move to Salzburg in the summer of 2025 as the right next step, with Bayer 04 securing a buy-back option in his contract. Decisions that both parties would not regret in the months that followed.

He made his professional debut for Red Bull Salzburg on the European stage in the Champions League qualifier against SK Brann from Norway (4-1). Although two narrow defeats against Club Brugge prevented qualification for the UCL league phase. However, Alajbegovic had plenty of minutes in the UEFA Europa League, starting against FC Porto and Aston Villa, among others. With his brace in the 3-1 win against FC Basel, he almost single-handedly decided the match. Two goals and an assist in seven games, four of them from the start - the youngster quickly made his mark in Europe.

regular starter at RB Salzburg

The same applies to the Austrian Bundesliga. Alajbegovic shone as a goalscorer and provider in the 5-0 win against Grazer AK on matchday 2. He quickly became a regular starter on the wing or as a ten and so far he has scored seven goals and provided two assists in 20 league appearances. Some of his goals have proved to be decisive and helped Salzburg to pick up important points in the league title race.

Alajbegovic will give everything he has right up to the end to lead his team to a major success. His "great ambition and desire to win", as Bayer 04 Director of Football Kim Falkenberg put it when he signed the contract, will certainly help him in this endeavour.

And so the 18-year-old could return to Leverkusen from his first professional season with the self-confidence of a title win - where he took decisive steps in professional football. And where he sees his place for the coming years: "I know the club, Bayer 04 Leverkusen has the highest standards. It's a top 16 club in Europe that always competes at the top of the Bundesliga. Many young players have already made it here. I also have that goal."

crucial penalty in world cup qualifier

It is not only at club level that Alajbegovic's form has shown a steep upward curve in recent months. His performances at Red Bull helped the Cologne-born player make his debut for the senior Bosnia and Herzegovina team. His first appearance? Alajbegovic-like: He contributed a goal and an assist in the 6-0 win against San Marino in the World Cup qualifiers.

In four of his seven international appearances to date, he has impressed as a provider - including most recently in the World Cup qualifier on Thursday night: Alajbegovic came on after just over the hour mark and, shortly before the end, put a corner onto the head of legendary Bosnia striker Edin Džeko who levelled the score at 1-1. As no further goals were scored in extra time, the game went to a penalty shoot-out. The future Leverkusen player took responsibility as the fifth penalty taker, converting confidently in the bottom right-hand corner and sending his nation into the decisive duel for participation in the World Cup against Italy.

More to come, as the saying goes. Then, at least in club football, with the Bayer Cross on his chest. He describes the return to the club of his youth as a "step up to another level". However, Kerim Alajbegovic has impressively demonstrated in recent months that challenges and changes like this do not cause him any problems.