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Ekwah Elimby Secures Auxerre Loan Move After Watford Stint
Pierre-Emmanuel Ekwah Elimby has joined Ligue 1 side Auxerre on a season-long loan from Saint-Étienne, seeking to rebuild momentum after a challenging campaign in the English Championship.
Pierre-Emmanuel Ekwah Elimby has completed a loan switch to Auxerre, departing Saint-Étienne on August 27, 2026, in a move designed to give the 23-year-old midfielder a fresh competitive platform in French football. The deal is a straightforward loan arrangement with no disclosed transfer fee, marking another step in a journeyman career path that has seen the Frenchman navigate the lower echelons of English football.
At a glance
- Player: Pierre-Emmanuel Ekwah Elimby (23, Midfielder)
- Move: Loan from Saint-Étienne to Auxerre
- Date: August 27, 2026
Career context
Elimby’s career trajectory is heavily defined by his time in the English football pyramid, particularly his association with West Ham United, Sunderland, and Watford. His transfer history reveals a constant search for first-team minutes:
- West Ham to Sunderland (January 2023): Initially moved to Sunderland in a permanent or initial registration shift.
- Sunderland to Saint-Étienne (August 2025): Signed by Saint-Étienne following a period of development and loans.
- Saint-Étienne to Watford (February 2026): Loaned out to Championship side Watford to gain senior experience.
- Watford to Saint-Étienne (June 2026): Returned to his parent club after his loan spell concluded.
- Saint-Étienne to Auxerre (August 2026): Immediately sent out on loan again, this time to Auxerre, to secure further development.
Throughout his youth and early senior years, Elimby was a consistent performer in the Premier League 2, finishing as runner-up in the 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2023/2024 seasons, as well as reaching the FA Youth Cup final in 2019/2020. However, a calf injury sustained between February 27, 2025, and March 5, 2025, disrupted his progress and likely influenced his clubs' cautious approach to his deployment.
How he fits at his new club
Apps
Goals
Assists
Minutes
Rating
At Auxerre, Elimby is expected to provide defensive depth and physical presence in the midfield. Standing at 189 cm and weighing 80 kg, his physical profile is suited to the demands of Ligue 1. His player attributes highlight a clear tactical identity: a Defence rating of 76 and a Duels rating of 100 suggest a highly combative, aggressive ball-winner. Conversely, his Creation (35) and Attack (43) ratings indicate that he is primarily a defensive screen rather than a creative playmaker. Auxerre will likely deploy him as a holding midfielder or a box-to-box enforcer tasked with breaking up opposition play and winning duels, utilising his high duels won percentage (66%).
Recent numbers
During his recent stint in the Championship with Watford in the 2025 season, Elimby's statistical output was limited but showed flashes of defensive utility:
- Appearances: 7 matches (3 starts, 4 substitute appearances)
- Minutes Played: 280 minutes
- Rating: 6.76 average
- Defensive Actions: 9 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 block
- Passing: 153 total passes at an 83% accuracy rate, including 3 key passes
- Discipline: 2 yellow cards, 0 red cards
- Duels: Won 21 out of 32 total duels (66% success rate)
- Dribbles: 1 attempt, 1 success (100% success rate)
His lack of direct goal contributions (0 goals, 0 assists) and limited shot volume (4 shots, 3 on target) underscore his purely functional, defensive role within the team structure.
Key takeaways
- Defensive Specialist: Auxerre is acquiring a physical, high-dueling midfielder whose primary strengths lie in tackling, interception, and defensive positioning.
- Injury Recovery: Having recovered from a calf injury sustained in early 2025, Elimby will be aiming to maintain a full pre-season and establish regular fitness.
- Career Continuity: This loan represents his fourth temporary or permanent move since 2023, highlighting a career phase focused on securing consistent senior football.
| Metric | Value (Championship 2025) |
|---|---|
| Appearances / Starts | 7 / 3 |
| Pass Accuracy | 83% (153 passes) |
| Duels Won | 21 / 32 (66%) |
| Tackles / Interceptions | 9 / 3 |
| Average Rating | 6.76 |