Aston Villa interested in Eljif Elmas after Napoli decide against permanent deal
Quick summary
Napoli will not activate their €17 million option to sign Eljif Elmas permanently from RB Leipzig, despite his strong loan season. Aston Villa have made an initial enquiry and are expected to open formal talks after the season.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceEljif Elmas is set to leave Napoli for the second time after the club confirmed they will not exercise their €17 million purchase option, despite the Macedonian midfielder enjoying a positive season that earned glowing praise from Antonio Conte.
The 26-year-old returned to Napoli on loan from RB Leipzig last summer and made 43 appearances across all competitions, contributing a goal against Torino in March that prompted Conte to wax lyrical.
“Let’s not forget Saint Elmas, they should build a statue of him,” the coach said at the time. “He understands football, gets into the game, is versatile and can play both as a central midfielder and as a trequartista. He is a surprising lad.”
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Eljif Elmas of SSC Napoli passes the ball whilst under pressure from Weston McKennie of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Aston Villa ready to open talks for Elmas as Sunderland interest fails to convince Despite the praise, Napoli’s decision not to activate the clause means Elmas will return to Leipzig before moving on to his next destination.
According to TMW , Sunderland have registered interest, though the Championship club are not considered an attractive proposition for the former Fenerbahce man at this stage of his career.
Aston Villa represent a far more compelling option. Already confirmed for next season’s Champions League, the Villans have made an initial enquiry and are prepared to open formal discussions once the season concludes. That prospect is understood to appeal considerably more to Elmas.
In total across his two spells at Napoli, the midfielder made 232 appearances for the club, a significant contribution that ultimately could not persuade De Laurentiis to meet Leipzig’s asking price.
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What happened
Eljif Elmas is set to leave Napoli again after the club chose not to trigger their €17 million purchase option following his loan from RB Leipzig. The midfielder made 43 appearances this season and earned strong public praise from Antonio Conte for his versatility and football intelligence. Sunderland have shown interest, but Aston Villa are described as a more attractive destination, especially with Champions League football on offer next season. The report indicates Villa are preparing to move more formally once the campaign ends.
Chance analysis
This matters because Elmas is a flexible midfield option who can play centrally or in an advanced role, so his exit reduces Napoli's squad depth while creating a potentially useful addition for Aston Villa. For prediction systems, the key takeaway is squad-planning impact rather than immediate match impact, with the story still at transfer-interest stage rather than a completed move.
Likely mild negative for Napoli depth and potentially positive for Aston Villa if talks progress into a deal.
Treat this as medium-confidence transfer-market signal: Napoli are likely to lose Elmas, while Aston Villa's interest is credible but not yet definitive.