Dortmund departure leaves Algeria prospect Elias Benkara facing uncertain next step

Four months after signing his first professional contract with Borussia Dortmund, Algeria prospect Elias Benkara has announced his surprise departure from the German club, with a move to Greuther Furth reportedly under discussion.

The 19-year-old central defender revealed the decision on Friday through an Instagram Story, posting a picture accompanied by the caption: “Merci”.

His announcement came just four days before the transfer window closes in Germany and has caused considerable surprise in Algeria, where Benkara is viewed as one of the country’s potential future internationals.

Benkara has been called up once by Algeria but did not play in the side’s 3-1 victory over Zimbabwe on 13 November 2025. Despite his reputation as a promising defender, he has yet to make a first-team appearance for Dortmund.

The teenager is understood to be unhappy with the lack of playing time available to him at the Bundesliga club. His only competitive opportunities so far have come with the reserve side, where he has made a handful of appearances in Germany’s fourth tier.

Benkara’s progress was also disrupted by an injury suffered during Dortmund’s 2-1 match against Fortuna on 25 July. He was subsequently left out of the rest of the club’s pre-season programme, missing friendly fixtures against Arsenal and Roma as well as the German Super Cup meeting with Bayern Munich last weekend, which Dortmund lost 2-1.

He was not included in the squad for Dortmund’s league opener against Hamburg on Saturday either. The defender, who was born in Frankfurt am Main, has therefore found himself without a clear route into the senior side despite having only recently committed his future to the club.

Benkara signed his first professional contract with Borussia Dortmund four months ago, with the agreement due to run until 2029. His decision to leave so soon after putting pen to paper has made the timing of the move particularly unexpected.

According to Bild, second-tier club Greuther Furth are prepared to offer Benkara an opportunity to continue his development away from Dortmund. The proposed deal would be a loan including an option to buy.

Dortmund are also expected to negotiate a percentage of any future sale as part of the transaction. The possible move would give Benkara the chance to obtain more regular senior football while allowing Dortmund to retain a financial interest in his future.

For now, the defender’s Instagram announcement signals an abrupt change in direction for a player who had been regarded in Algeria as a potential long-term figure for the national team. His lack of first-team minutes at Dortmund appears to have played a central role in the decision, with Greuther Furth emerging as a possible destination before the German transfer window closes.