Elche Team News - Soccer

Fernando Nino - Joins Elche through 2030 Nino has completed a move to Elche from Burgos, agreeing to a contract through June 2030, his new club announced.

Impact Nino came through Villarreal's academy before loan spells at Mallorca and eventually a permanent move to Burgos, where he established himself as one of Segunda Division's more reliable forwards, scoring seven goals last season. With Alvaro Rodriguez and Andre Silva both departing Elche's attack, Nino could be in line for a starting role up front as the club heads into a new season in La Liga.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Matias Dituro - Trains fully with squad Dituro (shoulder) has trained with the rest of his teammates on Monday, according to Javi Teruel of Diario AS.

Impact Dituro's return to full training is an encouraging sign after the shoulder injury he suffered in the win over Kaizer Chiefs, which had marked the only sour note of manager Martin Anselmi's debut as Elche coach. His involvement suggests the issue was not serious, positioning him to continue building toward the two friendlies this week against Al Ain and Cordoba as Elche's preseason progresses.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Yago de Santiago Alonso - Still training apart in recovery Santiago (knee) still trains apart from the team as he continues his recovery, according to Javi Teruel of Diario AS.

Impact Santiago underwent arthroscopic knee surgery back in May with the goal of being ready for this preseason, and his continued individual work suggests his return to full training is taking a bit longer than initially hoped. He finished last season with two tackles, one interception and five clearances across nine La Liga appearances, mainly as a rotational option, and his path back to the group will be worth monitoring as Elche continues preseason preparations.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Pedro Bigas - Dealing with discomfort Bigas (undisclosed) is dealing with some discomfort during preseason and is training partially, according to Javi Teruel of Diario AS.

Impact Bigas was the defensive cornerstone of Elche's survival last season, finishing with one goal, three assists, 36 tackles, 29 interceptions and 107 clearances across 28 La Liga appearances, and his current setback is one to monitor given his importance to the backline. His limited work continues apart from the group, and his path back to full training will be worth tracking as Elche prepares for the 2026/27 La Liga season.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Josan - Extends contract through 2027 Josan signed a one year contract extension with Elche through June 2027, the club announced.

Impact Josan will begin his tenth season with the club, having made 281 official appearances to rank ninth on Elche's all time list. The captain has been part of several promotion campaigns during his decade with the club, including last season's effort to secure survival in LaLiga. His leadership and connection with supporters have made him one of the squad's most important figures. Josan is expected to continue serving as a key veteran presence for Elche as he begins his tenth campaign with the club.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Matias Dituro - Suffers shoulder injury Dituro was substituted after picking up a shoulder injury in Saturday's preseason win over Kaizer Chiefs, marking the only sour note in manager Martin Anselmi's debut as Elche coac...

Impact Dituro finished last season as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the relegation battle, recording four clean sheets and 64 saves across 22 La Liga appearances as Elche secured survival on the final day. His shoulder issue is a new concern to monitor heading into the new season, and further details on the severity of the injury should emerge as Elche continues its preseason preparations under the new coaching staff.

JULY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Bambo Diaby Diaby - Back with Elche Diaby has returned to Elche after spending the second half of the 2025/26 season on loan at Granada.

Impact Diaby was limited to just four appearances with Elche in the first half of the 2025/26 campaign, but he appeared in eight league matches with Granada. Still, don't expect the 28-year-old defender to have much of a future with Elche due to the amount of depth the team has at center-back.

JULY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Víctor Chust - Signs permanently with Elche Chust signed permanently with Elche after the club exercised the purchase option included in his loan agreement with Cadiz, committing to the club through June 2029, the club annou...

Impact Chust came through the Real Madrid academy before making the move to Elche, where he delivered a solid and consistent campaign this season, making 31 appearances including 22 starts and establishing himself as an important figure in the defensive unit. The 25-year-old Valencia-born center-back also contributed a decisive goal against Getafe, a crucial strike that helped secure a vital victory in the club's survival battle. His adaptability, defensive reliability and competitive commitment throughout the most demanding moments of the season convinced Elche to make the move permanent, with the club viewing his continuity as a key part of building a competitive and stable squad heading into the coming seasons.

JUNE 17 • ROTOWIRE

La Liga striker vows to appeal against rape conviction after being sentenced to over eight years in prison

Rafa Mir has spoken out after being handed an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence following a conviction for sexual assault and injury. Th...

JUNE 15 • goal

La Liga striker vows to appeal against rape conviction after being sentenced to over eight years in prison

Spanish soccer player Rafa Mir sentenced to 8-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting two women

A court in Spain has sentenced Spanish forward Rafa Mir to eight and-a-half years of prison for having sexually assaulted two women along with another soccer player

JUNE 15 • Associated Press

Buba Sangare - Purchase option triggered Sangare has been permanently signed by Elche after the club exercised their purchase option with AS Roma, tying the young defender to the club until June 2031, the club announced.

Impact Sangare joined in the winter transfer window and made seven La Liga starts since his arrival, demonstrating remarkable maturity, personality and adaptability for a player of his age in his first taste of top-flight football. Sangare is a regular fixture in Spain's youth national team setups and is considered one of the most exciting young defensive prospects in Spanish football, making his permanent signing a significant statement of intent from the club about their long-term plans. Born and raised in the Carrus neighbourhood of Elche, Sangare's story carries special meaning for the club and the city, with the teenager representing the dreams of countless young players from his hometown.

JUNE 3 • ROTOWIRE

Gonzalo Villar - Signs until 2029 Villar will stay with Elche for upcoming seasons after triggering the purchase option in his loan contract from Dinamo Zagreb and securing a deal that links him to the Spanish side...

Impact Villar finished the last campaign as a key element of the Franjiverde midfield, racking up 325 accurate passes, 11 crosses, 12 tackles and one goal over a run of eight starts at the end of the season. He's now set to remain a regular participant in central positions, offering some defensive and playmaking value.

MAY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Girona coach Míchel Sánchez leaves after relegation amid reported links to Ajax job

The coach who led unheralded Girona to a surprise Spanish title challenge in 2024 and a Champions League debut left the club Thursday after it was relegated from the top tier

MAY 28 • Associated Press

Gonzalo Villar - Signs permanently with Elche Villar has permanently joined Elche from Dinamo Zagreb after the Spanish club secured their La Liga survival, triggering the mandatory purchase clause included in his loan agreemen...

Impact Villar ends his loan spell having contributed one goal, 11 crosses, 13 tackles, seven clearances and two chances created across 12 La Liga appearances (eight starts) since joining in the second half of the season. The permanent move ties the Spanish midfielder to the Franjiverdes on a long-term basis as they prepare for another top-flight campaign.

MAY 24 • ROTOWIRE

David Affengruber - 8 clearances against Girona Affengruber had two tackles (two won), eight clearances and one interception in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Girona. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 47th minute.

Impact Affengruber was one of Elche's most composed performers in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Girona on the final day of the season, anchoring the right side of a back four that held firm against sustained Girona pressure throughout the second half as the hosts desperately searched for the win they needed to survive, while also adding two tackles, one interception and eight clearances. Affengruber ends the 2025-26 La Liga season with one goal, one assist, 74 tackles, 51 interceptions and 178 clearances across 36 appearances, establishing himself as a composed and reliable starter in a side that spent the entire campaign battling relegation before securing survival on the final day.

MAY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Pedro Bigas - Delivers one assist Bigas assisted once to go with one cross (zero accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 1-1 draw versus Girona.

Impact Bigas was one of the standout performers in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Girona on the final day of the season, anchoring Elche's defensive line with authority and composure as his side defended deep throughout the match. The Spanish center-back consistently won his aerial duels and produced several crucial clearances in the closing stages as Girona pushed numbers forward in search of survival, finishing as one of the main reasons Elche secured the draw that confirmed their top-flight status, while also adding two tackles, two interceptions and three clearances. Bigas ends the 2025-26 season with one goal, three assists, 36 tackles, 29 interceptions and 107 clearances across 28 La Liga appearances, establishing himself as the defensive cornerstone of an Elche side that spent the entire campaign battling relegation before surviving on the final day against a direct rival.

MAY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Alvaro Rodriguez - Scores opener Rodriguez scored one goal to go with two shots (one on goal) in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Girona.

Impact Rodriguez gave Elche the lead in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Girona on the final day of the La Liga season, firing a composed first-time finish past Paulo Gazzaniga in the first half after a headed pass from Pedro Bigas, a goal that ultimately proved enough to secure his side's top-flight survival despite Arnau Martinez's second-half equalizer. Rodriguez ends the 2025-26 La Liga season with seven goals, five assists and 33 key passes, delivering his most important goal at the most crucial moment of the campaign to help keep his side in the division.

MAY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Matias Dituro - Six saves in draw Dituro had six saves and allowed one goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Girona.

Impact Dituro delivered his finest performance of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Girona on the final day of the La Liga campaign, making six saves across 90 minutes to deny the hosts the win they needed to avoid relegation. The Argentine goalkeeper proved decisive in a match that confirmed Elche's top-flight status, with the draw enough to secure survival while Girona dropped to the second division. Dituro ends the 2025-26 season with four clean sheets, 29 goals conceded and 64 saves across 22 La Liga appearances, establishing himself as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the relegation battle and a key reason his side survived against the odds.

MAY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Mallorca and Girona relegated as La Liga finishes

Girona and Mallorca have been relegated after playing their last games of the La Liga season

MAY 23 • Associated Press

Girona vs Elche Prediction and Betting Tips | May 23rd 2026 Perhaps the highest-stakes fixture of the final round of the 2025-26 La Liga campaign takes place at the Estadi Montilivi on Saturday, where Girona host Elche in a do-or-die relega...

MAY 22 • SPORTSKEEDA.COM

La Liga finishes with relegation and European berths in play

The final day of La Liga promises drama with more than half the teams either eyeing the prize of playing in Europe or locked in a desperate fight to avoid relegation

MAY 21 • Associated Press

Adria Pedrosa - Subbed in on Sunday Pedrosa generated one clearance in Sunday's 1-0 win versus Getafe.

Impact Pedrosa replaced Andre Silva in the 66th minute and recorded eight touches and four passes. Pedrosa has now come off the bench for back-to-back appearances and has only started eight of his 26 appearances this campaign.

MAY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Víctor Chust - Nets critical goal Chust scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal), six crosses (zero accurate) and three corners in Sunday's 1-0 victory against Getafe.

Impact Chust netted the only goal of the game in the 19th minute from long range, putting Elche in 17th place and securing crucial three points in their race for safety. This was his only goal of the campaign. He also recorded four clearances, two tackles, and an interception.

MAY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Matias Dituro - Registers clean sheet Dituro made no saves and allowed zero goals in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Getafe.

Impact Dituro recorded one clearance, made 39 passes, and secured his fourth clean sheet of the campaign. He has now accumulated seven saves and one clearance across the last four games, conceding six times. Next, he takes on Girona in a critical game to determine relegation, with Elche and Girona currently 17th and 18th respectively, level on points.

MAY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Leo Petrot - Suspension served Petrot is available for future action after missing one league game through suspension.

Impact Petrot will look to add to his tallies of 69 clearances, 37 tackles and 15 interceptions in 31 matches played (18 starts), though he's not guaranteed to be favored in the contention with Pedro Bigas, Victor Chust and David Affengruber. The Frenchman had operated as a left-sided center-back before his ban, but his production and playing time were somewhat erratic.

MAY 17 • ROTOWIRE

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La Liga striker vows to appeal against rape conviction after being sentenced to over eight years in prison

Spanish soccer player Rafa Mir sentenced to 8-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting two women

Girona coach Míchel Sánchez leaves after relegation amid reported links to Ajax job

Mallorca and Girona relegated as La Liga finishes

La Liga finishes with relegation and European berths in play