Only one professional game in a year and a half – midfielder’s contract terminated

VfL Bochum is currently preparing for the upcoming season at a training camp. Meanwhile, there has been a departure.

He was a promise for the future that was never fulfilled: After a total of one and a half years, Agon Elezi is leaving VfL Bochum. The 24-year-old’s departure had been on the cards for some time and was confirmed on Monday evening when the Bundesliga relegation side announced that it had agreed with Elezi to terminate his contract, which was originally due to run until 2027. This clears the way for a transfer on a free transfer. Elezi is expected to join FK Sarajevo in Bosnia. According to media reports, the midfielder has already passed a medical with the team that finished third in the league last season. At the Bosnian capital club, he has the chance to play in international competitions, as Sarajevo is participating in the qualifying round for the Conference League. The North Macedonian international came to Bochum from Croatia at the beginning of 2024. “He has great potential and we believe he has what it takes to make the leap to the Bundesliga,” said then sporting director Marc Lettau. However, Elezi was unable to establish himself in the VfL first team during a difficult period. He made just 19 minutes of competitive action, coming on as a substitute in the first round of last season’s DFB Cup. Elezi was mostly not even in the squad for league games, instead playing for the Oberliga team. He scored five goals and provided two assists in five games. The central midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan in Croatia. Now he is leaving Castroper Straße for good.

After Tim Oermann (Bayer Leverkusen, loaned to Sturm Graz), Lukas Daschner (St. Gallen), Patrick Drewes (Borussia Dortmund), Bernardo (TSG Hoffenheim), Dani de Wit (FC Utrecht), Paul Grave (1. FC Bocholt), Ivan Ordets, Mohammed Tolba (both destination unknown), Anthony Losilla (both retiring), Myron Boadu, Tom Krauß, Georgios Masouras, and Jakov Medic (all returning to their parent clubs after loan spells), Elezi is the next departure.