Sassuolo agree £34.1m Muharemovic sale to Leeds, Juventus to profit

Leeds United have agreed a £34.1m fee with Italian club Sassuolo for centre-back Tarik Muharemovic. The 23-year-old Bosnia-Herzegovina international has not yet finalised personal terms or completed a medical. Furthermore, other Premier League clubs have shown an interest in acquiring the defender, meaning the transfer is not yet guaranteed to complete.

For a European audience, the deal highlights the complex financial scaffolding of the continent's football economy, where sell-on clauses act as critical revenue-sharing mechanisms. Juventus are reportedly set to receive 50% of the £34.1m transfer fee. This clause was strategically included by the Italian giants when they sold Muharemovic to Sassuolo just last summer, allowing them to profit significantly from a player who never made a first-team appearance for their club.

Sassuolo’s ability to secure such a substantial fee reflects the broader market for young, internationally capped defenders. The Italian side initially acquired Muharemovic on loan before making the deal permanent in 2025. Flipping the player for £34.1m represents a significant capital gain for the club, demonstrating how mid-tier European teams use strategic scouting and loan-to-buy structures to generate revenue.

The proposed move serves as a direct replacement for Pascal Struijk, who left Leeds for Brighton in a £20m deal in June. If completed, Muharemovic would become manager Daniel Farke's second signing of the summer transfer window. He would join attacker Harry Wilson, who arrived on a free transfer from Fulham, as Leeds look to rebuild their squad.

Muharemovic's path to a high-profile transfer has been unconventional. Born in Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, he began his senior career in Austrian football, making his debut with Wolfsberger in 2021. His move to Juventus did not yield first-team minutes, but his subsequent development in Italy established his market value.

His profile was raised significantly on the international stage. Muharemovic made three appearances for Bosnia-Herzegovina at the World Cup. This included the last-32 defeat by co-hosts the United States, a match that garnered significant attention after he was fouled by US forward Folarin Balogun. Balogun was sent off, though FIFA later waived the suspension following an intervention from US President Donald Trump and White House officials.