“He made a tackle right by the South Stand and the crowd exploded. I thought, you’ll fit right in here,” he recalled.
Simon Grayson, former Leeds boss, looks back on the moment new signing Tarik Muharemovic won over fans during a July friendly versus RB Leipzig.
The 23‑year‑old arrived as Leeds’ costliest defender, a £34.1 million move from Sassuolo, taking the spot left by Pascal Struijk, who left for Brighton for £20 million.
Supporters initially balked at the price for a player with only a single top‑flight season under his belt.
“He matches the profile, but the fee feels steep,” noted one fan after the 6‑ft‑4‑in left‑footed centre‑back’s signing.
Three months into a five‑year deal, talk now centres on how long Leeds can retain Muharemovic after his immediate impact following Bosnia‑Herzegovina’s World Cup run.
BBC podcast host Jonny Buchan warned, “He could become a one‑year wonder, impress in the Premier League and then be chased by bigger clubs.”
Interest is already reported from Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, drawn by his no‑nonsense defending and aerial threat at both ends.
Grayson, who led Leeds from 2008‑12, says he’s shown a rock‑like steadiness and that a long stay at Elland Road will suit him.
“Right now, he seems at home here. He loves Leeds, the city and the supporters,” Grayson added.
Fans have fallen for his passion, not just his on‑field intensity.
After Leeds thrashed Newcastle 4‑1, he shouted into the cameras, “United are back, United are back!”
Dubbed ‘The Bosnian Brick Wall’, he helped Leeds claim the second‑worst defence in the league, only behind champions Arsenal.
For my money, Muharemovic is Leeds’ most promising signing this season.
How will Muharemovic fit in at Elland Road?
Born in Slovenia, raised in Austria, he broke through in Italy and now showcases his talent in Yorkshire, unintentionally landing in a World Cup spotlight.
During Bosnia‑Herzegovina’s 2‑0 loss to the United States on 2 July, he was fouled by Folarin Balogun, leading to Balogun’s red card after video review.
That incident would have sidelined Balogun for the Belgium match, but U.S. President Donald Trump asked FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to review the decision.
A disciplinary panel lifted Balogun’s ban, allowing him to play as Belgium won 4‑1.
“I was everywhere, on every media site. I thank God I escaped injury,” he said.
Muharemovic’s parents fled Bosnia during the 1992‑95 war, settled in Slovenia, then moved to Austria.
There he spent most of his childhood, though the family kept strong Bosnian ties and language.
He debuted professionally at 18 for Wolfsberger in the Austrian Bundesliga in 2021.
After just six senior games, Juventus snapped him up, where he logged 57 appearances for their Next Gen side alongside future Real Madrid star Dean Huijsen.
He never featured for Juventus’ first team, but trained with legends Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, the iconic duo that won eight Serie A titles for the Old Lady.
“Breaking into Juventus’ first eleven is tough,” he admitted about his Turin stint.
“When you train with Bonucci and Chiellini, they’re the first to show you how to defend,” he recalled.
While at Juventus, he earned his senior Bosnia‑Herzegovina debut at 21 in a 3‑0 friendly loss to England at St James’ Park before Euro 2024.
He moved to Sassuolo—initially on loan in 2024, then permanently—helping them secure an 11th‑place Serie A finish on their return.
His abilities go beyond defending.
He is fluent in Bosnian, German, English, Italian and Slovenian, and often credits his parents for his progress.
His father Rasim has been spotted cheering with Leeds supporters at both home and away fixtures.
“My dad loves it,” Muharemovic said. “He attends every match, even away games.”
“In Italy he also went to all home games and some away games, but this season he says he can’t miss any Premier League fixtures,” he added.
Leeds travel to Bournemouth on Saturday (15:00 GMT) boasting one of the league’s strongest defences, conceding six goals and keeping three clean sheets in eight games.
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Their new number 5 has led the Premier League in headed clearances and contributed a goal and two assists in ten appearances.
He dominates aerially at both ends, yet displays finesse, evident in a back‑heeled assist to Dominic Calvert‑Lewin against Newcastle.
He’s yet to miss a minute in the Premier League, as Leeds have collected 11 points from two wins, five draws and one loss.
“The biggest compliment is that nobody even mentions Struijk’s departure,” a fan noted.
“Muharemovic exemplifies a signing that fits the manager’s system—left‑footed, playing on the left side of a back three,” another observed.
“He’s proven to be an outstanding acquisition,” the commentary added.
Grayson, who guided third‑tier Leeds to a famous FA Cup win over Manchester United in 2010, remembered, “From the first minute against Leipzig he looked comfortable on the ball.”
“In the opening 20 minutes I saw enough to label him an exceptional talent, and he’s only improved since,” Grayson continued.
“His cultured left foot delivers short and long passes, thriving in a back three. He also understands what Leeds fans expect,” he said.
“Time will reveal his development. He sounds like someone living the dream, loving life here as a Leeds player,” Grayson concluded.
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