Introducing Eljif Elmas

Hey, Eljif! 

Eljif Elmas has moved to RB Leipzig! The midfielder has made the switch from SSC Napoli to sign a contract with RBL until 2028. 

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We’ve gathered all the most interesting facts about our new number 6 so you can get to know him a bit better! 

Good to know  

• Born on 24th September 1999 in Cair, North Macedonia.   
   
• Started playing football at the age of seven for Fenerbahce Tefejuz.
   
• Elmas is right footed, 1.82 metres tall and likes to play in the middle of the park. The 24-year-old is more than happy to play as a central or attacking midfielder, as well as on both wings. 
    
   
• Honours
  • Coppa Italia winner in 2019/20 with SSC Napoli 
  • Serie A winner in 2022/23 with SSC Napoli 
  • North Macedonian Footballer of the Year in 2019 
  • North Macedonian Young Player of the Year in 2016, 2017 

An early bloomer  

• At an early age, Eljif helped his parents, who worked as confectioners, with the family business and learned how to bake as a result. 
    
• Our new arrival made his senior debut for North Macedonian first-division side Rabotnicki Skopje at 16 years old. 

  Still aged 16, Elmas would make his debut on the European stage in June 2016, as he played in Europa League qualifiers for Rabotnicki and even scored to make it 1-1 against FK Buducnost Podgorica from Montenegro. 

  His achievements didn’t go under the radar for very long, as a number of top clubs started to show interest in Elmas after seven goals and seven assists in his first 35 professional games. Eljif eventually opted for Turkey, joining Fenerbahce in 2017.

Famous friends and quickfire goals 

• Fellow North Macedonian, basketball player PeroAntic, was instrumental in Elmas’ decision to move to Fenerbahce. Antic, who played for NBA side AtlantaHawks, also played in Istanbul between 2015 and 2017 and helped Fenerbahce’s board out by convincing Elmas to join one of Turkey’s historic sides. 
    
• After impressing for Fenerbahce, SSC Napoli secured Eljif’s services in 2019. He enjoyed a lot of success with the Italian side, winning the Scudetto in 2023 and the Coppa Italia in 2020. He also bagged the second-fastest goal in the Europa League history – it only took him 12.6 seconds to open the scoring against Spartak Moscow. 
   
• Eljif played for North Macedonia at the European Championships in 2021, but was unfortunately knocked out after three losses in three group games. He has played 56 times for his country and scored 12 goals.

Causing a stir in Germany 

• Some RBL fans may recognise Eljif because of a very special performance against Germany. In March 2021, the national team – who were still managed by Joachim Löw at that point – lost to North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier in Duisburg, with Eljif scoring an 85th-minute winner. 
    
• You can gain an insight into our new arrival’s day-to-day life by following his Instagram account – “elifelmas24“.