Training camp

Daniel Elfadli’s journey – the perfect story?

Daniel Elfadli has consistently gone from strength to strength over the course of his career, and HSV’s new arrival is keen to continue this trend with the Rothosen by putting in the hard yards and feeding his ambition.

Daniel Elfadli has not experienced teething problems. The 27-year-old is a fresh face at HSV, but the midfielder, who moved to the Rothosen from 1. FC Magdeburg, has been quick to slot into the side. If it were down to him, Elfadli would have been a HSV player a year ago, but the transfer in summer 2023 did not come to fruition following a successful first season at FCM and in the 2. Bundesliga. It was a different story this time round, however, and the three-time Libya international explained how the move has given him a real boost. “I’m really pleased that I’m a HSV player and, personally, I’m now aiming to nail down a starting place here.” A quick glance at Elfadli’s statistics is all you need to prove that these are anything but empty words. Over the past few years, the midfielder has consistently managed to raise his game to the next level, and then adapt to the level after that, which brings us back to his teething problems, or lack thereof.

No pain, no gain: Daniel Elfadli has been putting his mentality on show at HSV’s training camp in Austria.

Elfadli began his senior career in the Landesliga before moving up to the Oberliga. He then made the step up to the fourth division of German football – the Regionalliga -, where he played for two clubs. The Libya international made the switch to Magdeburg in 2022, skipping over the 3. Liga and into the world of professional football. “I’ve always believed in myself and my potential,” explained Elfadli, looking back on his eventful career where he has consistently climbed the ranks. “I’ve definitely not followed a traditional path, but I’ve always believed that I can do anything with hard work,” he noted.

“Fadli” remembers that this was the case as far back as his time in the Landesliga, even though not many people believed in him and his dream. His mother was also happy that her son was not putting all his eggs in one basket, as he started to study business with a focus on logistics at the same time as playing football. It’s fitting, therefore, that Elfadli seeks to control the game when he plays as a defensive midfielder; it’s where he’s best, as it’s where he can make the most of his strategic skills. His ambition did not just make him stand out during his studies, which he finished despite his budding football career, but continues to be a factor in his playing style on the pitch.

“Always give my all for the team” – even in every training session: Daniel Elfaldi in action.

“I always give my all for the team,” stated Elfadli, who expressed his desire to make himself an essential component of every team he plays for. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity, but I’m also very ambitious. For me, playing for this club and playing my part in helping to achieve our end goal represents a huge challenge.” The goal in question – promotion to the Bundesliga. This also happens to be Elfadli’s personal goal, since going from the Landesliga all the way to the top division of German football “would make the perfect story”.

The 27-year-old is well aware that it won’t be a walk in the park for HSV. It also promises to be a tough season for Elfadli, as the pressure in Hamburg will be more intense than it was during his spell in Magdeburg, with all the public scrutiny, the weight of expectations and the quality, that is to say the competition for places in the team. That being said, it’s just another hurdle that Elfadli wants to overcome: “It’s the goal I’m setting myself.” You just need to look at the way the rest of his career has gone to see that he’s more than capable of doing just that.