Bochum sign new defensive midfielder

VfL Bochum unveiled a surprise new signing late Tuesday evening. 

Twice-capped North Macedonian international Agon Elezi has been brought on board at VfL Bochum. The 22-year-old joins the Revierklub from Croatian top division side  NK Varaždin on a new deal good through 2027. The right-footed defensive midfielder, who can also play at right-back, has scored eight goals in 65 appearances across all competitions over the course of three-and-half years with the club he just departed.

With an estimated market worth of €800,000, Elezi doesn’t exactly count as a major splurge for the VfL. He was nevertheless reportedly courted by other clubs in Austria before Bochum made the late swoop. One assumes a transfer fee no greater than six figures. Bochum personnel executive Marc Lettau noted in a statement accompanying the signing that his team had beat out other competitors.

“A market opportunity arose at short notice with Agon Elezi that we absolutely wanted to take advantage of,” Lettau said in a statement accompanying the signing, “He has great potential and we believe he can make the leap to the Bundesliga.”

“When I heard about VfL’s interest, I was very excited,” The player himself noted, “My former coach Samir Toplak often talked about VfL and the Bundesliga. Now I can hardly wait to get to know the team and the club better. I think VfL is the perfect next step in my career.”

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