Leeds United Sign Defender Nico Elvedi from Borussia Monchengladbach

Leeds United have landed experienced Swiss defender Nico Elvedi from Borussia Monchengladbach in a deal worth up to £8.5m, handing Daniel Farke the defensive leader he has been pushing for this summer.

The 29-year-old has signed a three-year contract at Elland Road and, crucially, reunites with Farke, who coached him during the 2022-23 season in the Bundesliga. That relationship proved decisive.

“He is also a big point for this change,” Elvedi said, clear about the pull of his former boss. “It was just one year but I loved to have him as a manager. I learned a lot from him and I will learn a lot now.”

Monchengladbach agreed an offer of £6.8m up front, with a further £1.7m in add-ons. It ends an 11-year spell in Germany for Elvedi, where he became a mainstay, racking up 364 appearances for the club.

This is not a raw project signing. Elvedi arrives with 73 caps for Switzerland and played every minute of their recent run to the World Cup quarter-finals, bringing major-tournament experience into a Leeds back line that has needed calm, seasoned voices.

He becomes Leeds’ fourth arrival of the window, following goalkeeper James Trafford, winger Harry Wilson and fellow defender Tarik Muharemovic, as the club methodically rebuilds its core.

His signing has already triggered movement. Sebastiaan Bornauw has left Elland Road for Hamburg on a season-long loan, his path to minutes narrowed by Elvedi’s arrival.

There was another departure earlier on Wednesday, with striker Joel Piroe joining West Ham on a season-long loan, underlining that Leeds’ reshaping under Farke is gathering pace on both sides of the pitch.