The national team is one of the best platforms for a player to prove his value and secure a valuable professional contract, as shown by 18-year-old first-team player Kerim Alajbegović. After the final whistle, which marked the end of the match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Wales in Cardiff, Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a place in the play-off finals, and Kerim also secured a new deal. Bayer Leverkusen announced that he will return to the club in the summer, Forbes writes.
A Buy-Back Clause
The attacking midfielder signed a contract lasting until 2031. Bayer activated a buy-back clause under which RB Salzburg will be paid eight million euros. Last summer, Alajbegović transferred from Leverkusen to Salzburg for two million euros. Simon Rolfes of Bayer Leverkusen said that Alajbegović has surpassed all expectations and become a key player despite his young age.
According to Kicker, Alajbegović’s return to Bayer Leverkusen this summer has been finalized. Leverkusen is initiating the buy-back clause, which was included when they sold the player to RB Salzburg in the summer of 2025, and is bringing the player back for eight million euros. The decision to activate the buy-back clause was made because of Alajbegović’s rapid development and because the buy-back option is only valid during the summer transfer window. After that period, RB Salzburg could have sold Alajbegović at a freely negotiated price, and significantly higher offers would likely have arrived.
Weekly Salary
In March 2026, reports indicated that Kerim Alajbegović’s market value rose to between 15–20 million euros. According to Transfermarkt, Alajbegović’s market value as of March 10 was 15 million euros, a significant rise compared to December 2025, when his value was eight million euros, and in fall 2025, three million euros less. Transfermarkt reported that Alajbegović ranks third among Bosnian football players by market value, immediately behind Ermedin Demirović (22 million euros) and Tarik Muharemović (20 million euros).
Alajbegović is also the most valuable player in the Austrian League.
According to Transferfeed, which published Red Bull Salzburg’s salaries for 2025/2026, Alajbegović earned 12,000 euros per week.
