RB Leipzig have completed the transfer of Eljif Elmas. As the DFB Cup winners announced on Wednesday, the midfielder joins from Italian champions SSC Napoli and signs a contract with the Bundesliga club until 2028. The North Macedonian is expected to cost around 25 million euros.
"Eljif is technically highly trained, strong in running and dribbling and also dangerous in front of goal. And above all, he has a very good mentality both with and against the ball. He can be deployed flexibly, can play centrally in attack, but also on both wings," said sporting director Rouven Schröder in the club's press release. With his skills, he also brings some new components to the RB game, "because he is very strong in one-on-one situations thanks to his fast approach and physical robustness and always looks for the direct route to goal", Schröder emphasized.
Elmas could follow Emil Forsberg in Leipzig, who celebrated his Bundesliga farewell on the last matchday before Christmas after 325 competitive games at Werder Bremen and is moving to New York. However, Elmas was deployed in central midfield both in Naples and in the national team, making him somewhat more defensive than Forsberg. As a result, the international would have to make some adjustments at RB.
The 24-year-old had recently lost his regular place in Naples. So far this season, he has played 16 competitive matches for the Italians, but has only started four times. The midfielder is currently out of action due to leg flexor problems. Elmas, who moved to Italy from Fenerbahce Istanbul in 2019, has played 52 international matches for North Macedonia to date, scoring 12 goals.
On January 2, Elmas and his new team-mates are due to travel to the training camp in La Manga (Spain). On January 13, the fourth-placed team will continue their Bundesliga campaign with a home match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
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