Contract expires
©IMAGO
Will defensive talent Elias Benkara take a similar path to Borussia Dortmund as shooting star Luca Reggiani – or will he leave for a free transfer in the summer? The contract of the 18-year-old central defender, who has been a regular at BVB II since the end of January, is expiring. There are discussions about an extension, but there is also interest from clubs where proven talent can quickly take the next steps. These include Feyenoord Rotterdam and RSC Anderlecht, a corresponding report from “Bild” can be confirmed by Transfermarkt.
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Benkara moved from Mainz 05’s youth team to Dortmund in 2021, became German B junior champion there in 2024 and, when fit, was always one of the top performers in his year. However, his professional debut is still pending, although the Frankfurt native was already nominated for the Algerian senior national team last November. The lack of a clear perspective among the BVB professionals is reportedly making Benkara hesitate to make a decision. Top clubs from the Netherlands or Belgium, such as those mentioned, should have good arguments when it comes to recruiting talent.
The fact that Reggiani made the jump into head coach Niko Kovac’s team and not Benkara could also be related to his injury problems this season. The defensive player was first out from the beginning of August to the end of September and then again between mid-November and the end of January, missing 17 regional league games, including a short transition to the U19. He is now placed there and was therefore brought up by Kovac on matchday 23 against RB Leipzig (2:2) and for both games of the Champions League intermediate round against Atalanta (2:0; 1:4), when several defenders were missing from the professionals.
Reggiani, who is a good eight months younger than him, has now made the leap, has now signed a professional contract until 2029 and recently increased his market value to 5 million euros.
