No move after all: BVB reportedly tie down defensive gem | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund secures the future of a promising defensive talent. Despite interest from several clubs, the 18-year-old has decided to stay at BVB.

Elias Benkara has made his decision — and it is against a move away. Despite concrete interest from clubs in Germany and abroad, the defensive talent is staying at Borussia Dortmund and apparently is on the verge of signing his first professional contract. According to information from BILD, the new deal will run until 2029.

This brings an uncertain period to an end: with his current contract expiring in the summer, several clubs had shown interest in the 18-year-old. Alongside Feyenoord Rotterdam and RSC Anderlecht, Eintracht Frankfurt had also been trying to sign the centre-back, who was born in Frankfurt. A free transfer had seemed entirely possible — but Benkara still sees his sporting future in Dortmund.

At BVB, the 1.93-meter-tall defender is no stranger. Since joining from FSV Mainz 05 in 2021, he has steadily worked his way through the club’s youth ranks. This season, he has become a regular part of the second team and is consistently included in the starting lineup.

At the same time, Benkara has already gained his first impressions of the professional setup. He has been named in the matchday squad several times — both in the Bundesliga and on the international stage in the Champions League. However, he is still waiting for his professional debut.

BVB ties down top talent: Benkara stays until 2029

The decision in favor of Dortmund can also be seen as a sign of trust. Internally, the club believes the right-footer is capable of making the step up to the professional level, while he himself is apparently convinced by his development opportunities. The planned contract extension underlines this shared vision.

Photo: IMAGO

Benkara has already made his international choice as well: the defender opted early on for the Algerian national team, has already been called up there, and is regarded as a promising option for the future. Regardless of Benkara’s situation, BVB is also reportedly working on further extensions for young talents. According to BILD, talks are also underway with Ukrainian right-back Danylo Krevsun over continuing their collaboration.

One thing is clear: with the impending signature, Borussia Dortmund is sending a strong signal — and tying one of its most promising defensive talents to the club for the long term.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.