Leverkusen snaps up highly rated Bailey amid widespread interest

Leon Bailey, Belgium’s reigning Young Player of the Year and a 2016 Golden Boy nominee who burst onto the scene earlier this season, has chosen Bayer Leverkusen as his next destination.

The 19-year-old Jamaican underwent a medical with the German club late last week before sealing a move from Genk on Tuesday for reported €15-million fee. In joining Roger Schmidt’s side, he shunned apparent interest from Manchester United, Chelsea, Hull City, Roma, and Ajax.

Bailey committed his future to the BayArena outfit until 2022.

The rest of the continent began to take notice of Bailey after his exploits in the Europa League, where he’s scored seven goals in 12 appearances. This season has built on his debut campaign, when he struck the net six times and delivered 10 assists in the Belgian top flight.

A player with the spirit of a street footballer, Bailey is a raw but exciting talent who possesses excellent ability in close quarters. He’s usually deployed as a winger, although he can play in a central position as well. His pace is unbelievable – “he’s so fast it’s not normal,” Ajax youth coach Ronald de Boer once said – and his direct style of play is a crowd-pleaser.

Bailey showcased his tremendous skill in Europe’s second-tier competition, and made international headlines with a rocket strike from distance against Rapid Wien in September.

Sitting third among Europa League contestants with 3.8 dribbles per match, the teenager is not afraid to impose his will on matches. He’s also unleashed more shots per game (4.7) than anyone else in the tournament. Firing from all angles, Bailey is a threat from virtually every attacking position.

Bailey’s heart was always on making the next step, but he admitted in a UEFA.com interview that he would only switch clubs if he was guaranteed playing time.

And after one-and-a-half years in Belgium, that time has come.

Minutes at United, Chelsea, and Roma are at a premium, but at Leverkusen – a perennial European contestant overshadowed by the Bundesliga’s big boys – they’re more likely available.