RB Leipzig has completed the transfer of Eljif Elmas. As the DFB Cup winner announced on Wednesday, the midfielder comes from the Italian champions SSC Napoli and is signing a contract with the Bundesliga club until 2028. The North Macedonian will cost around 25 million euros in transfer fee.
“Eljif is technically well trained, runs and dribbles well and is also a goal threat. And above all, he has a very good mentality both with and against the ball. He can be used flexibly and can play centrally offensively but also on both wings,” said sports director Rouven Schröder in the club’s announcement. With his skills, he also brings some new components into the RB game, “because his quick start and his physical robustness make him very strong in one-on-one situations and always look for a direct route to the goal,” emphasized Schröder.
Elmas could be Forsberg’s successor
Elmas could follow Emil Forsberg in Leipzig, who celebrated his Bundesliga farewell at Werder Bremen on the last matchday before Christmas after 325 competitive games and moves to New York. However, Elmas was used both in Naples and in the national team in central midfield and therefore somewhat more defensively than Forsberg. At RB, the national player would therefore have to change a bit.
Emil Forsberg celebrated his departure from RB Leipzig in December
Only second choice at Naples
The 24-year-old recently lost his regular place in Naples. In the season so far he played 16 competitive games for the Italians, but was only in the starting line-up four times. The midfielder is currently out due to hamstring problems. Elmas, who moved from Fenerbahce Istanbul to Italy in 2019, has played 52 international matches for North Macedonia and scored twelve goals.
Training camp starts on January 2nd
On January 2nd, Elmas is scheduled to travel to the Spanish training camp in La Manga with his new teammates. On January 13th, the fourth-place team continues their Bundesliga home game against Eintracht Frankfurt.
red/sid
