Atalanta Transfer Market: A Former Napoli Player for Maurizio Sarri—Deal Signed
Atalanta has announced that it has acquired the playing rights to Eljif Elmas from RB Leipzig on a loan with an option to buy.
An Italian champion in the 2022–23 season with Napoli—with whom he also won a Coppa Italia (19–20) and an Italian Super Cup (2025), though he never had the opportunity to be coached by Maurizio Sarri— the versatile midfielder boasts considerable experience both at the club level—with a total of 361 professional appearances, including 189 in Serie A—and at the national level—at 26, he is already among the top ten Macedonian players with the most appearances of all time.
Born on September 24, 1999, in Skopje, Eljif made his debut in the Macedonian top flight with Rabotnički in February 2015, when he was still just 16 years old. After two seasons, 44 appearances, and 7 goals, he transferred to Fenerbahçe, where, during his two years in Turkey, he also played his first matches in the Europa League. Napoli signed him in the summer of 2019, and over four and a half seasons with the Azzurri, thanks to his versatility and talent, he carved out an important role for himself, becoming a key player in the 2023 Serie A title run with 6 goals in 36 matches. Then, in January 2024, he received an offer from RB Leipzig, which signed him on a permanent basis. After a year in Germany, he returned to Italy—this time on loan—first to play for Torino and then again for Napoli, with whom he closed out last season with 44 appearances and an Italian Super Cup title to his credit.
Named Macedonian Player of the Year in 2019, he also boasts an outstanding record with his country’s national team. Since his debut in June 2017 in a World Cup qualifier against Spain, he has made 79 appearances for the senior national team, scoring 10 goals, and also played in the 2021 European Championship.
