SD Eibar have presented their new signing, Elijah Gift, and are now fully focused on their upcoming league challenge against Granada CF. The Basque side, eighth in the table with 6 points, host the current Segunda División leaders this Sunday at Ipurua in a key early-season fixture.
Who is new signing Elijah Gift?
Elijah Gift, a 20-year-old winger with dual Spanish and Cuban nationality, joins Eibar on loan from Athletic Club until the end of the season. As reported by Mundo Deportivo, the player expressed his enthusiasm for this new step during his official presentation. "My goal at Ipurua is to grow as a player, take a step forward and compete strongly as a group," declared the Navarrese footballer.
Gift was developed in the academies of Huddersfield Town and Liverpool in England before joining Athletic Club in 2023. Last season he played 30 matches for Bilbao Athletic in the Primera Federación, scoring two goals. César Palacios, Eibar's sporting director, highlighted that the player will bring "power and speed" to the team's flanks. His arrival follows the departure of Sarasketa to Athletic, as explained by the director.
How is the team shaping up for the Granada match?
Eibar began training this week at the Areitio sports complex with high spirits after securing their second consecutive victory. Jokin Aranbarri's team beat FC Andorra 0-1 in the last matchday, a win that leaves them just one point behind leaders Granada CF. This Sunday, September 6th, at 14:00, the two sides will meet at Ipurua in the fourth round of LaLiga Hypermotion.
The armeros completed their first session of the week with tactical exercises and a small-sided game, maintaining the high intensity characteristic of the coaching staff. With the transfer window now closed, the club faces the rest of the season with its current squad, where every outfield player has seen minutes in the first three matchdays. You can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
What happened in the win against FC Andorra?
Eibar secured a valuable away win against FC Andorra with a 0-1 scoreline, according to the match summary published by Marca. The only goal of the game came early in the second half when Aleix Garrido finished into the net from an Iván Gil pass. The match became complicated for the Basques shortly after, when Magunazelaia received a straight red card, leaving the team with ten men for over half an hour.
Andorra pressed for an equalizer and even scored a goal in added time, but VAR ruled it out for offside. The Eibar defense held firm under late pressure to take all three points. This victory, added to the one from the previous matchday, allows Eibar to settle in the upper part of the standings with a record of two wins and one loss.
What does Gift bring to Aranbarri's team?
Manager Jokin Aranbarri already knows Elijah Gift from his time at Bilbao Athletic last season, which should ease the player's adaptation. The winger describes himself as an "unbalancing, fast and strong" footballer who likes to "find space". His profile of speed and ability to create overloads on the flank offers Eibar a different attacking option.
Gift completed his second day of training with the main group at the same pace as his teammates, as confirmed by the club on its official website. The player is seeking his first minutes in professional football and will add competition to a squad that has shown versatility. The team has scored three goals and conceded three so far this season, maintaining a defensive balance they now aim to complement with greater attacking potency. The full squad is available in our squad section.
The match against Granada CF at Ipurua this Sunday represents the first major test of the season for an Eibar side looking to confirm their positive start.
