When Leeds United must register Nico Elvedi for Nottingham Forest debut chance as transfer rules explained
A fourth new face of the summer looks set to join Leeds United.
Leeds United have exactly three days to register Nico Elvedi with the Premier League if he is to be available at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The 29-year-old defender looks set to become summer signing number four at Elland Road, making the permanent switch from Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. Leeds are believed to have agreed an initial £6.8million fee that could rise to £8.5m if add-ons are met.
Elvedi was not in Monchengladbach’s squad for their pre-season meeting with Aston Villa on Saturday, after which head coach Eugen Polanski all but confirmed a move. He said: “He's a real rock for us, so this is a big blow.
“On the other hand, it's a question of finances, and there's Nico's wish to leave, as he's given so much to this club over eleven years. That's why we can't and don't want to stand in his way.”
Elvedi is believed to have arrived in the UK on Monday to complete medical tests and finalise the terms of his move to Leeds. And manager Daniel Farke will have an eye on including the 73-cap Swiss international in his squad for Saturday’s Premier League opener at the City Ground.
Premier League rules state a new signing must be registered by 12pm on the last working day before a game in order to be eligible. With Leeds heading to Forest on Saturday at 3pm, that means the paperwork on Elvedi must be submitted and approved by mid-day Friday.
That gives Leeds three days to get their transfer over the line, which barring any unforeseen hiccups should be ample time. Personal terms are believed to have already been agreed between the club and Elvedi, while the expectation is a medical will pass without a hiccup given he played six World Cup games for Switzerland earlier this summer.
Whether Elvedi would be fit to start is another question and particularly given Farke’s tendency to ease new signings in, any debut will almost certainly come from the bench. Just last season, Jaka Bijol had to wait until October 24 for his first Premier League appearance before becoming a staple at centre-back.
Elvedi is also expected to start the season as back-up for the central centre-back and right-sided centre-back roles, behind Bijol and Joe Rodon respectively. The first-choice pair started alongside Tarik Muharemovic and in front of James Trafford for the first time in pre-season against Augsburg on Saturday.