Welcome, Eljif Elmas!
The midfielder joins from RB Leipzig on loan with option to buy
Atalanta BC are pleased to announce the signing of Eljif Elmas from RB Leipzig on loan with an option to buy.
A Serie A champion with Napoli in the 2022/23 season, Elmas also lifted the Coppa Italia in 2019/20 and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2025. The versatile midfielder brings a wealth of experience at both club and international level, with 361 senior appearances to his name, including 189 in Serie A. At 26, he is also among the top 10 most-capped Macedonian players.
Born in Skopje on 24 September 1999, Eljif made his senior debut for North Macedonian first-division side Rabotnicki Skopje in February 2015, aged just 16. After two seasons, 44 appearances and seven goals, he moved to Fenerbahçe, where he also made his first UEFA Europa League appearances during his two seasons in Türkiye.
Napoli signed him in the summer of 2019 and, thanks to his versatility and technical quality, he quickly carved out an important role during his four-and-a-half seasons with the Neapolitan side. He was one of the protagonists of their 2022/23 Scudetto triumph, scoring six goals in 36 appearances.
In January 2024, Elmas made a permanent move to RB Leipzig. After a year in Germany, he returned to Italy on loan, first joining Torino and then Napoli, where he ended the season with 44 appearances and a Supercoppa Italiana title.
Named North Macedonia's Player of the Year in 2019, Elmas has also built an impressive international career. Since making his debut in June 2017 in a World Cup qualifier against Spain, he has earned 79 caps and scored 10 goals, while also representing his country at EURO 2020.
The Percassi family, the Pagliuca family and everyone at Atalanta BC warmly welcome Eljif and wish him every success, both personally and with the team, in Nerazzurro.
Eljif Elmas puts pen to paper on his new contract with Atalanta