Who is Nico Elvedi as Leeds United 'reach agreement' with 'one of the best defenders in Europe'
All you need to know on Leeds United’s latest reported transfer target Nico Elvedi.
Leeds United could be about to swiftly replace one centre-back with another amid reports of interest in Nico Elvedi.
The YEP understands current defensive cover option Sebastiaan Bornauw could swap Elland Road for Hamburg this summer. A season-long loan with an option to buy looks the most likely option with Daniel Farke suggesting the Belgian wanted a move to get more minutes.
Reports then emerged of interest in Elvedi, with Sky Germany going as far as to claim personal terms have already been agreed with the defender. Below is all you need to know on Leeds’ latest reported target...
Who is Nico Elvedi?
Defender Elvedi was born in Zurich and spent his academy days with FC Zurich, initially playing for their reserves before making his Swiss Super League debut in 2014, aged 17. He went on to play 24 times across all competitions for his first club before joining Borussia Monchengladbach in 2015.
The Bundesliga side paid €4million for Elvedi and he’s spent the last 11 seasons at Borussia Park as a first-team regular in the German top-flight - one under Farke in 2022/23. Elvedi has played a whopping 364 games for Monchengladbach across all competitions, scoring 19 goals.
Elvedi has worn the armband during periods at Gladbach, when club captains weren’t playing, and just last week was named vice-captain. He has 73 caps for Switzerland, making his international debut in 2016 and starting all six games during the 2026 World Cup.
What kind of defender is Nico Elvedi?
As a right-footed defender, Elvedi can operate with relative comfort in two of Leeds’ back-three positions, although he would be most comfortable in the central centre-back role currently occupied by Jaka Bijol. It will also come as no surprise to learn he stands at 6ft 2ins and is a physically capable centre-back.
Elvedi would be expected to have much the same responsibilities as Bornauw, with defending his box from crosses and shots the main priority. In that instance, the Swiss international is strong with an average of 8.19 clearances per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga placing him in the top nine per cent compared to fellow defenders, according to FotMob.
Overall, Elvedi makes 11.62 defensive contributions - a combination of clearances, blocks, interceptions and tackles - per 90 minutes, which places him in the top 14 per cent of Bundesliga defenders for that combined metric. Overall, the 29-year-old can do much of what Bornauw did, but potentially at a better level.
What’s been said about Nico Elvedi?
Having played under Farke at Gladbach during the 2022/23 campaign, Elvedi is well known to the current Leeds boss and very highly-rated. During a slight dip in form during that season, the centre-back came under fire a bit but his manager was in no doubt.
“Nico Elvedi is an absolute leader for us,” Farke said at the time. “When he is at his best, he is one of the best central defenders in Europe. He has proven that over the years."
That’s high praise for Elvedi but his ability to remain a first-team regular in the Bundesliga for well over a decade, as well as cement himself at centre-back for an improving Switzerland side, is impressive. More recently, European football expert Kevin Hatchard commented on the links to Leeds.
Hatchard, who regularly commentates on Bundesliga matches, quoted reporter Plettenberg’s post on X, writing: “Very solid and experienced. I think he’d be a smart signing by #lufc (they are making a habit of those)”.