Leeds United's Deal for Elvedi Hangs on Bornauw's Future
Leeds United have moved to land a defender Daniel Farke knows as well as anyone in Europe. The agreement is there, the numbers are set, the player is ready. And yet, the move still hangs on a single domino.
The club have reached a deal with Borussia Monchengladbach for Nico Elvedi worth €10m (£8.5m), according to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, with a 15% sell-on clause included for the Bundesliga side. Personal terms with the Swiss international were wrapped up earlier in the week. On paper, it’s done.
In reality, it isn’t. Not yet.
Bornauw the key to unlocking Elvedi
The entire transfer now hinges on what happens with Sebastiaan Bornauw.
The Belgian centre-back has been strongly linked with a switch to Hamburg after a difficult spell at Elland Road. Since arriving from Wolfsburg, he has managed just nine Premier League appearances, never truly nailing down a place in Farke’s defence.
Leeds view Elvedi as a direct replacement. Until Bornauw’s future is resolved, the Elvedi deal cannot be fully completed. There is no agreement in place for Bornauw to leave at this stage, and that standstill is keeping the Elvedi move in a holding pattern.
The uncertainty has already had consequences in Germany. Elvedi was left out of Borussia Monchengladbach’s squad for their pre-season friendly against Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon, a clear protective measure to avoid any injury that might wreck the transfer.
Farke’s options stretched at the back
The timing is tight. The new Premier League season starts next week, and Leeds have already had a busy summer. Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic, and James Trafford have all arrived as the club look to strengthen their grip on top-flight status.
Pascal Struijk’s departure, though, left a gap at centre-back that Leeds have been determined to fill. With Bornauw’s situation unresolved and Elvedi stuck in limbo, Farke’s current central defensive pool is thin.
Right now, his recognised centre-backs are Joe Rodon, new signing Muharemovic, and Jaka Bijol. Ethan Ampadu and James Justin can both slot in centrally if needed, but neither is a specialist in that role for Leeds.
The pressure for clarity on Bornauw, and by extension Elvedi, is obvious.
A manager’s favourite
What makes this pursuit different is the manager’s intimate knowledge of the target.
Before taking over at Leeds in 2023, Farke spent a season in charge of Gladbach. During that spell, he worked closely with Elvedi and built his defence around him. The Swiss defender quickly became one of his key figures.
Farke has never hidden what he thinks of him. At Gladbach, he called Elvedi “one of the best defenders in Europe” when at full tilt and labelled him “an absolute leader for us”.
This isn’t a speculative signing. It’s a coach going back for a player he trusts to anchor his back line in one of the most demanding leagues in the world.
The deal is agreed. The manager is convinced. The player is waiting.
Now Leeds need one more move to fall into place. Will Bornauw’s next step unlock the defender Farke believes can lead his back four – or leave Leeds scrambling for an alternative with the season about to start?
