Unai Elgezabal Joins Levante UD as First Signing for Next Season
Unai Elgezabal (Urdúliz, Bizcaia, 1993) has been announced as the first signing for Levante UD for the upcoming season. The Basque defender has joined the team with an option to extend for an additional season. The contract was signed in the past few hours, and Elgezabal will arrive in Valencia in the coming days for medical tests.
The player is joining from Burgos CF, where he has performed exceptionally since his arrival in September 2020. Prior to Burgos CF, he was part of SD Eibar and played for AD Alcorcón and CD Numancia.
"I want to adapt to the club and the city as quickly as possible, and then start working hard because I am full of energy and excited to take on this important challenge of playing for Levante UD," Elgezabal stated in his first remarks to the club. For him, joining Levante UD is "special because it is a club with a spectacular history. My goal is for the club to grow and for me to grow with it, with ambition and a grounded approach."
Elgezabal captained Burgos CF and played 35 matches last season. The new Levante UD coach, Julián Calero, has added him to the defense to build a competitive team ready to face a 42-match season, with 21 games at home.
Early Career in Basque Pelota
Elgezabal trained at Danok Bat in Bilbao and signed with Athletic Club in 2012 to play for CD Basconia. He left Basque pelota at that time, as he could not balance it with football. He moved to Segunda División B with Barakaldo CF in the 2015-2016 season, after also playing for Cultural de Durango. His career includes stints at SD Eibar, AD Alcorcón, CD Numancia, and a return to AD Alcorcón before joining Burgos CF in 2020.
Official Presentation on Social Media
Similar to the announcement of coach Julián Calero, Levante UD has continued with its campaign titled "More Than You Think," using the metaphor of a gourmet sandwich. In a humorous video, Unai Elgezabal is seen shopping at the Cabanyal Market and asking for "Elgezabal" cheese. The shop owner corrects him, thinking he wants "idiazabal" cheese, but Elgezabal insists that "Elgezabal is the best for our sandwich." You can watch the video at the following link.
