HE Elche CF continues to seek reinforcement during the winter market to strengthen the squad for the second round of the league and push for promotion. So far, two players have joined the Franjiverde side: goalkeeper Matías Dituro and forward Manu Nieto.
Matías Dituro: “I wanted to participate in Elche’s ambitious project”
JA Galvan
Elche’s management also secured its most impactful addition, a promising youth player named John Chetauya. He could not participate fully until the end of December due to a fibula surgery performed on July 19. After a long period away from the pitch, the young midfielder returned to the fold and earned the trust of head coach Beccacece in the closing moments of the first round, appearing in the final minutes of the match against Mirandés on December 19.
Since then, Chetauya has been a regular in the squad, replacing others at midfield and showing the discipline and determination that the coaching staff had anticipated. He started in the cup tie against Girona and played the full 90 minutes, then repeated as a starter in Tenerife last Saturday, again completing the match.
John: “The transformation has been bittersweet due to Oscar’s injury”
VL Deltell
The Franjiverde coach returned with composure to the bench. It seems likely that John would be fit by November, but the 23-year-old talent could not immediately find his best form. The medical team opted for a cautious recovery to prevent a recurrence, as happened with his prior injury.
John sustained the injury during the “Festa d’Elx” cup match against Leeds United in December 2022. He pursued a conservative recovery to avoid surgery, but the issue resurfaced in March after months in dry dock. Returning to Elche’s bench, Beccacece shifted him into a central midfield role, his typical position in the setup. Last season, he appeared in 14 league matches, 13 of them in the first five rounds.
John had previously broken into the first team with helps from J.Orge Almirón against Atlético de Madrid at the Metropolitano. He also logged minutes alongside Francisco, primarily operating as a central defender when needed, reinforcing his versatility.
Beccacece has valued John’s presence in the midfield, appreciating his ability to stabilize play, win ball possession, and distribute short passes that help teammates organize attacks. The Argentine coach had expected this development to arrive sooner, especially after Cristian Salvador, signed last summer to shore up the midfield, did not receive the continuity and confidence that Elche hoped. The plan shifted to positioning Áleix Febas differently, with Beccacece expressing a desire to trust John again and reintegrate him into the lineup by the end of the previous campaign.
John Chetauya brings balance to the center of the field. His capacity to defend, intervene, and move the ball with precise short passes supports the midfield’s construction and gives Elche a reliable option in moments of need. The young talent has already emerged as a key element in the squad’s plans and is widely regarded as a valuable acquisition for the present campaign and the road ahead.