Tarik Muharemovic is in Leeds on Thursday to finalise a move to the Premier League club.
Muharemovic, a 23-year-old Bosnian centre-back, is set to become Leeds United’s new record-fee arrival, joining from Sassuolo in a deal worth £34m.
Standing at 6 foot 4, the towering defender will replace the departed Pascal Struijk at the heart of Daniel Farke’s backline.
Born in Slovenia, Muharemovic came through Wolfsberger AC’s academy before Juventus signed him in 2021, largely developing him through Juventus Next Gen.
A loan to Sassuolo in 2024 turned permanent in 2025, and he became a key figure in the club’s promotion-winning Serie B campaign before establishing himself in Serie A last season.
His profile – left-footed, dominant in the air, comfortable stepping out with the ball and even a threat at set-pieces – fits exactly what Farke wants from a modern Premier League centre-back.
Former Sassuolo coach Fabio Grosso, who oversaw his development, believes the youngster has a high ceiling: “He has grown a lot and has huge potential. He has the qualities of a player who can become very, very strong.”
Grosso also pointed to his temperament, adding that his “charisma and personality will help him as his career progresses”.
Muharemovic in Leeds to finalise £34m deal
Muharemovic arrived in the UK on Thursday to sign on the dotted line at Elland Road.
The 23 year-old will undergo a medical before crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s on the final details to replace Struijk following the Dutchman’s move to Brighton.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
Leeds needed an immediate ready-made starter and moved decisively to beat Sunderland, Bournemouth and Juventus to Muharemović’s signature. Fabrizio Romano has signalled his trademark “here we go” and Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Italy reports the deal as agreed at €40m (£34m). |
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Finances |
The 49ers Enterprises are again backing Farke heavily, with reports suggesting a budget of £70-100m+ this summer plus any money raised from player sales, similar to last year’s outlay. Muharemovic is the marquee piece, with more targets like Shea Charles and Oumar Solet in the pipeline, showing genuine commitment to building on last season’s impressive finish. |
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Insight |
Muharemovic was a near-ever-present for Sassuolo last season, making 32 Serie A appearances and chipping in with four goals and two assists. Defensively he was busy and effective: 6.9 clearances a game, 1.4 tackles and interceptions each per 90 minutes, and he won nearly three quarters of his aerial duels. |
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Impact |
He is comfortable stepping into midfield with the ball, which fits Farke’s possession-based approach and should ease the pressure on Ethan Ampadu and the deeper midfielders. The concern will be pace and adapting to the faster tempo of English football, but his reading of the game should ease that transition. |
Muharemovic move is bad news for Premier League rivals
Juventus inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause in the young defender’s contract when he left their ‘Next Gen’ system, meaning the Turin outfit will bank roughly €20m for a player who never made a senior appearance for the club.
The Serie A club are expected to turn their attentions straight to signing Jhon Lucumi of Bologna once the deal goes through, which would land a further blow on Sunderland and other Premier League rivals.
The Black Cats have been heavily linked with the Colombia international, as have Aston Villa and Bournemouth, and Bologna are certain he will leave this summer.
Juventus’ standing in the Italian top flight plus a cash injection will make them tough to beat in the race for the towering centre-back’s signature.
