EXCLUSIVE: European Sides Chase Unheralded World Cup Star

EXCLUSIVE: World Cup Star On Radar of European Giants

Football Park exclusively understands that Bosnia and Herzegovina international Benjamin Tahirović is on the transfer watchlist of German, Spanish and multiple MLS clubs this summer, according to an anonymous source.

It is reported that Borussia Dortmund represent German interest, while Real Betis and Sevilla make up the pair of Spanish clubs also watching the 23-year-old over the course of the 2026 World Cup.

Central midfielder Tahirovic, who has played just shy of two full games for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup so far, has already been heavily touted for a move to Scottish champions Celtic this summer, and with a last 32 tie against host nation USA in which to impress potential suitors, interest is only likely to swell.

While the interested MLS clubs showing interest in the midfield talent remain unnamed, the Bosnian has had plenty of other less confidential suitors, with a deal with Zenit St Petersburg rejected at the last minute, while Besiktas have also been known to look at him in the past.

Still just 23 despite boasting 29 international caps and two goals, it wasn't in the too distant past that Tahirovic was one of Europe’s most sought-after teenagers while contracted to Norwegian minnows Vasalunds IF, with the Bosnian eventually securing a move to Roma for an undisclosed fee in February 2021.

However, despite spending more than 18 months developing in the Italian outfit's youth ranks, his transition to the first team was underwhelming.

He struggled for gametime and was moved on to Dutch giants Ajax on a free transfer at the end of the campaign. Though minutes came more regularly, Tahirovic still failed to deliver on much of the promise he had shown in Norway, and after 39 appearances across two seasons at the Johan Cruyff Arena, he was on the move back to Scandinvia to don the jersey of Danish juggernauts Brondby.

It is at the eleven-time Superligaen winners that the youngster has finally started to find his feet. A regular starter in the centre of the park, he has played 49 times since arriving in February of last year, and with third and fourth finishes in his two campaigns at the club, he is playing at the right end of the table.

Growing into a mature player with every game that passes, the 23-year-old has become a crucial cog in the Bosnia lineup, starting all of their last seven games. A safe passer and crafty out of possession, Tahirovic acts as the metronome in the middle of the park, setting the tempo and ensuring the game never becomes too stretched.

Borussia Dortmund, Betis and Sevilla represent a path back into the elite echelons of European football, while interest from various MLS sides acts as an invitation to play in a rapidly growing, even more rapidly improving league.

Both are attractive prospects, and the heavy interest reflects how highly he is thought of in scouting departments across the world. Now, he is potentially two games away from re-entering the big time.