Tarik Muharemovic is in Leeds on Thursday to complete a move to the Premier League club.
Muharemovic, the 23-year-old Bosnian defender, is set to become Leeds United's new record signing, having joined from Sassuolo in a £34m deal.
Standing at 6 foot 4, the tall defender will replace the departed Pascal Struijk at the heart of Daniel Farke's back line.
Born in Slovenia, Muharemovic arrived at Wolfsberger AC's academy before Juventus signed him in 2021, promoting him to Juventus Next Gen.
A loan spell at Sassuolo in 2024 turned permanent in 2025, and he was a key figure in the club's Serie B-winning campaign before settling in Serie A last season.
His profile – left-footed, dominant in the air, comfortable on the ball and dangerous at set-pieces – fits exactly what Farke is looking for in a modern Premier League full-back.
Former Sassuolo coach Fabio Grosso, who has overseen his development, believes the youngster is at his best: “He has grown a lot and is very strong. He has the qualities of a player who could be very strong.”
Grosso also pointed to his attitude, adding that “his charisma and personality will help him as his career continues”.
Muharemovic to Leeds to complete £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 finalizing details to replace Struijk following Brighton's move from the Dutchman.
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Football FanCast verdict |
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Honesty |
Leeds needed an immediate starter and moved aggressively to beat Sunderland, Bournemouth and Juventus to the signing of Muharemović. Fabrizio Romano has signed his trademark “here we go” and Sky Italy's Gianluca Di Marzio reports the deal as having been agreed for €40m (£34m). |
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Finance |
49ers Enterprises have also backed Farke heavily, with reports suggesting a budget of £70-100m+ this summer and any money raised from player sales, similar to last year's costs. Muharemovic is the marquee piece, with the likes of Shea Charles and Oumar Solet in the first tier, showing real commitment to building on last season's impressive finish. |
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Understanding |
Muharemovic was almost there for Sassuolo last season, making 32 appearances in Serie A and chipping in with four goals and two assists. Defensively he was busy and efficient: 6.9 clearances a game, 1.4 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, and won nearly three-quarters of his aerial contests. |
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Impact |
He is comfortable moving into midfield with the ball, which suits Farke's possession-oriented approach and should take the pressure off Ethan Ampadu and the deeper midfielders. The concern will be pace and adaptation to the fast pace of English football, but his learning of the game should ease that transition. |
Muharemovic's departure is bad news for Premier League rivals
Juventus have included a 50 per cent sell-on clause in the young defender's contract when he leaves their 'Next Gen' programme, meaning the Turin outfit will be worth €20m for a player who has yet to feature at the club.
The Serie A club are expected to focus on signing Jhon Lucumi from Bologna once the deal has been completed, which will further attack Sunderland and other Premier League rivals.
The Black Cats have been heavily linked with the Colombian international, as have Aston Villa and Bournemouth, while Bologna are certain to make a move this summer.
Juventus' position in Italy's top flight and cash injection will make them hard to beat in the race to sign a centre-back.
