Kenan Yildiz Hails Tarik Muharemovic’s €40 Million Leeds United Switch as Defender Bids Emotional Farewell to Sassuolo
Kenan Yildiz, one of Juventus’ brightest young stars, has publicly congratulated Tarik Muharemovic following the defender’s high-profile transfer to Leeds United in a €40 million deal.
This blockbuster move, confirmed by Leeds on Friday, not only signals a new chapter for Muharemovic but also secures a substantial financial windfall for Juventus, who will pocket half the transfer fee thanks to a 50% sell-on clause.
Muharemovic, who honed his skills in the Juventus NextGen squad before his move to Sassuolo in 2014, now embarks on a Premier League adventure at Elland Road. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international’s journey has come full circle, reuniting with the attention of Yildiz, his former Juventus teammate. Yildiz marked the occasion on Instagram, addressing Muharemovic as “My brother,” in a gesture that underscores the strength of their bond forged during their Turin days.
The transfer marks the culmination of an emotional period for Muharemovic, who represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup after playing a pivotal role in eliminating Italy from the qualifying play-off. Upon completing his move to Leeds, Muharemovic delivered a heartfelt message to Sassuolo supporters on social media, reflecting on his transformative two years at the club.
“There are moments when finding the words is really difficult. Today is one of those,” Muharemovic wrote. “After two fantastic years, full of emotions, it’s time to say goodbye to Sassuolo. When I arrived, I was going through one of the most difficult moments of my career. This club trusted me when I needed it the most, helped me rediscover myself and helped me have fun again on the pitch. For this reason, I’ll always be grateful.”
He went on to extend his gratitude to key figures at Sassuolo, including coach Fabio Grosso, director Giovanni Carnevali, sporting director Francesco Palmieri, and the Squinzi family. “Thanks to Mister Fabio Grosso for believing in me since the first day and for the opportunity he gave me. Thanks to director Giovanni Carnevali, sporting director Francesco Palmieri, and the Squinzi family for the trust and support. Thanks to my teammates, the whole staff and all the people working for this club every day. A special thanks to the fans, too. You’ve always made me feel at home from day one, and you always supported me, especially in difficult times. I’ll forever bring your affection with me. I leave Sassuolo with a heart full of gratitude and great memories. I wish all of you the best for the future. Thanks from the bottom of my heart, forever Forza Sassuolo.”
Muharemovic’s farewell post drew an outpouring of support from Sassuolo’s squad, including a heartfelt response from star Domenico Berardi. The transfer comes amid sweeping changes at Sassuolo, with director Giovanni Carnevali departing for Juventus, coach Fabio Grosso joining Fiorentina, and former Liverpool, Roma, and Fiorentina midfielder Alberto Aquilani named head coach for the 2026-27 season.