Elche finishes winter market with several moves and a handful of departures
Elche CF closed the winter transfer window at midnight on Thursday, ending a frantic period in which the club was notably active. The club completed six arrivals and six exits as it reshaped the squad in a bid to compete in the remaining fixtures of the season.
The team said goodbye to several players, including Edgar Badia who left for Real Zaragoza, Álex Martín who moved to Racing de Ferrol, Sergio León who joined Eibar, Lautaro Blanco who transferred to Boca Juniors, Fidel who departed to Albacete, and Raúl Guti who also moved to Real Zaragoza. On the arrival side, Elche welcomed Matías Dituro from Karagumruk in Turkey, Manu Nieto from Andorra, Arnau Puigmal from Almeria, David López from Mallorca, Jhegson Méndez from Sao Paulo, and Sergio Bermejo who joined from Real Zaragoza. The transfer activity was one of the most intensive seen at the club in recent windows.
Summary: Elche signed Jhegson Méndez, Sergio Bermejo and David López, while Fidel was released and Raúl Guti was transferred out.
Initially, the club sought a new striker to replace Sergio León. Elche pursued a late deal with Randy Ntekabo but an agreement with Vallecano was not reached. A late attempt to sign Alberto Marí from Valencia also fell through, with Elche not managing to finalize the move to reinforce the attacking line before the window closed. The team explored several frontline options while balancing its salary structure and available slots in the squad.
Alberto Marí from Valencia was considered as an alternative to strengthen Elche’s forward line, but the move did not materialize. The club and its leadership continued evaluating options to boost goal production while maintaining squad balance for the rest of the season.
Rayo Vallecano president Martín Presa discussed the market after the window closed. He noted that Elche made a strong effort to loan Nteka, but the required six million euro option to purchase the player permanently if promoted to the First Division was not accepted. He acknowledged the intention of Elche to bolster the squad and thanked the club owner for the support, while explaining that the club’s assessment of the player remained higher than the offered terms. Presa also commented on the absence of a striker and the need to adapt with the players already in the squad, highlighting the presence of Mourad, Borja Garcés and Manu Nieto as the current forward options.
Christian Bragarnik, Elche’s principal investor, offered his own reflections as the market ended. He commented on the signing of Jhegson Méndez, a young midfielder who had played in the World Cup and was returning to action after a period away. Bragarnik also addressed the lack of a new striker and the absence of a direct replacement for Sergio León. He explained that the squad would continue to rely on the players available from Mourad, Garcés and Nieto, while keeping room to promote from within if necessary. He indicated that there were two free slots in the roster, but the club preferred to give opportunities to young players and to evaluate current options, including David López and Rodri, who are eligible for the B team but can be considered when needed. Bragarnik stressed the importance of keeping a balanced squad from both the competitive and financial standpoints and hinted that future opportunities could arise if a suitable deal emerged.
In statements after the market, the club’s leadership also commented on the plan to integrate Méndez into the team and the adjustments required by the new calendar. The emphasis remained on building a competitive unit that could maximize the potential of the current squad while preparing a pathway for younger players to step up when possible. The market’s overall tone suggested a pragmatic approach focused on long-term stability and squad cohesion.
Elche’s investor base continued to assess the roster implications, reiterating that two free slots exist but that any signing would have to fit within the club’s strategic guidelines. The emphasis remained on practical additions that would strengthen the midfield and defensive lines, while exploring internal development opportunities for promising players. The final composition of the squad reflected a balance between experience and youth, with several graduates from the club’s academy readied to contribute if called upon. Overall, the transfer window closed with Elche positioned to pursue its objectives for the remainder of the season.