Leeds United Agree Elvedi Deal But Bornauw Transfer Uncertainty
Leeds United have struck an agreement with Borussia Monchengladbach for defender Nico Elvedi – yet the move is stuck in neutral, tangled in the future of Sebastiaan Bornauw.
Daniel Farke has already enjoyed a purposeful summer. Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic and James Trafford have come through the door as Leeds look to harden their Premier League status before the new campaign kicks off next week. The plan was clear: add quality, add depth, and replace the experience lost when Pascal Struijk departed.
At centre-back, that search has led Farke back to a familiar face.
Deal agreed, but not done
Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that Leeds and Gladbach have agreed a fee of €10m (£8.5m) for Elvedi, with a 15% sell-on clause built into the deal for the Bundesliga club. Personal terms with the Swiss international were sorted earlier in the week. On paper, everything lines up.
Yet the transfer is not over the line.
The move hinges on what happens with Bornauw, who has been strongly linked with Hamburg after a frustrating spell in England. The Belgian has managed just nine Premier League appearances since joining from Wolfsburg and is viewed as the man Elvedi would directly replace in the squad.
Right now, though, there is no agreement for Bornauw to leave. Until that changes, Elvedi’s switch remains an agreement rather than a signing.
Elvedi protected as talks drag on
The uncertainty hasn’t stopped Gladbach from acting cautiously. Elvedi has been left out of their squad for Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Aston Villa, a clear sign of how close the deal is. The club do not want to risk an injury that could wreck the transfer.
That decision underlines Leeds’ intent. Farke wants him, Gladbach are preparing for life without him, and the player has already shaken hands on the personal side. Only the Bornauw domino is still standing.
In the meantime, Farke’s centre-back options look thin. With Bornauw’s future unresolved and Elvedi not yet in the building, the manager is currently relying on Joe Rodon, new arrival Muharemovic and Jaka Bijol as his specialist central defenders. Ethan Ampadu and James Justin can both fill in at the heart of the defence if needed, but neither is a long-term, first-choice solution in that role.
For a Premier League season that starts in a matter of days, it is a precarious place to be.
Farke’s trusted lieutenant
What makes this pursuit different from a routine recruitment move is Farke’s history with Elvedi.
Before taking over at Leeds in 2023, Farke spent a season in charge of Gladbach. During that spell he worked closely with Elvedi, who quickly became one of his mainstays at the back. The Swiss defender’s blend of composure, aerial strength and leadership turned him into a cornerstone of Farke’s side.
Farke didn’t hide his admiration at the time. He called Elvedi “one of the best defenders in Europe” when the centre-back hit top form and labelled him “an absolute leader for us.” Those are not the sort of endorsements managers hand out lightly.
So this is not a gamble. It is a manager trying to rebuild a defensive axis he already trusts, in a league where trust at the back often decides whether a club settles or suffers.
Leeds have their man in principle, Gladbach have protected their asset, and Elvedi is waiting. All that remains is a resolution on Bornauw. With the season about to start, how long can Leeds afford to wait?
