EPL: Bournemouth signs Milos Kerkez from AZ Alkmaar

Bournemouth have signed Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez on a long-term contract from AZ Alkmaar for an undisclosed fee.

Milos Kerkez was reportedly on the verge of joining Lazio before Bournemouth swooped and offered him the chance to play Premier League football next season.

The 19-year-old Hungary left-back Premier League club’s third summer signing following the arrivals of Justin Kluivert and Romain Faivre from Roma and Lyon respectively.

Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake told the club’s official website:

“He was being tracked by a number of clubs in Europe, but was very keen to join us after hearing about our plans and ambitions for the future.

“An athletic and attacking full-back, Milos will be an excellent addition to our exciting squad and we are looking forward to working with him.”

Born and raised in Serbia, Kerkez established his international roots during a spell playing for ETO FC Győr in Hungary’s second tier.

He joined Italian giants AC Milan’s Primavera youth side in 2021 having been sounded out by the club’s technical director Paolo Maldini.

Kerkez then joined AZ Alkmaar in January 2022 and made 52 appearances in all competitions last season, registering five goals and seven assists as they reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

He won his first senior cap for Hungary when he was 18, debuting in a 1-0 win against Germany in the Nations League in September 2022, and has started their past three Euro qualifiers against Bulgaria, Montenegro and Lithuania.

Bournemouth, whose left-back options had been depleted by the departures of Jordan Zemura and Matias Vina earlier this summer, will begin the new Premier League season at home to West Ham United on August 12, when Kerkez could make his competitive debut.