Official: Elmas returns to Napoli in agreement worth up to €18m | OneFootball

Napoli have officially signed Eljif Elmas from RB Leipzig, on loan with option to buy, in a return to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The deal is believed to be worth €2m with an option to make it permanent set at a further €16m.

The versatile North Macedonia international arrived last week for his medical tests and had warm hugs with many familiar faces in Naples.

Elmas glad to be back with Napoli

MONZA, ITALY – MARCH 02: Eljif Elmas of Torino celebrates after the Serie A match between Monza and Torino at U-Power Stadium on March 02, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

He had already called this city home from 2019 to January 2024, when he was sold to RB Leipzig for €17.7m.

Since then, Elmas had a brief return to Serie A for six months last season on loan at Torino, and had been in talks to extend that experience.

However, when Napoli stepped forward, he leapt at the chance to reunite with these supporters.

The midfielder turns 26 later this month and made 189 competitive appearances for Napoli, where he scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists.

They won the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia together.