Eljero Elia

2.1. ADO Den Haag

Elia made his professional debut for ADO Den Haag on January 23, 2005, at the age of 17. He came on as an 81st-minute substitute in a 3-0 loss against FC Groningen. In just his fourth appearance for the club, on May 8, he scored his first professional goal against AZ, which proved to be the winning goal in a 2-1 victory. In his inaugural season (2004-05), he featured in four matches, scoring one goal.

In the 2005-06 season, Elia established himself as a regular starter, primarily playing in midfield. He opened his scoring account for the season on September 21, 2005, in a 2-2 draw against Ajax. By the end of that season, he had made 30 appearances and scored 2 goals across all competitions.

During the 2006-07 season, Elia continued to be a key player in midfield. He scored his first goal of the campaign on October 28, 2006, in a 2-0 win over Heracles Almelo. He followed this with two goals in consecutive matches between December 16 and December 23, 2006, against Willem II and NAC Breda. Despite dealing with various injuries throughout the season, he managed 37 appearances and scored 3 goals. However, ADO Den Haag's relegation, combined with conflicts with the new coach, Lex Schoenmaker, and Elia's reluctance to play in the second-tier Eerste Divisie, led to his departure from the club at the end of the season.

2.2. Twente

Following the 2006-07 season, Elia attracted interest from both FC Twente and Ajax. Ajax reportedly intended to loan him back to ADO Den Haag immediately if he signed, which Elia opposed, preferring to play in the top flight. He ultimately chose to join FC Twente, with the transfer confirmed on May 29, 2007, under a three-year contract.

Elia made his debut for Twente on August 26, 2007, coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute in a 2-2 draw against FC Utrecht. He steadily gained playing time from the bench before securing a spot in the starting eleven. His first goal for FC Twente came on February 8, 2008, in a 2-1 victory over Heracles Almelo. A month later, on March 23, 2008, he scored his second goal for the club in a significant 2-1 win over Ajax. Elia played all four matches in the league's play-off for a UEFA Champions League spot, helping Twente secure a place in the tournament after beating Ajax 2-1 on aggregate. In his first season, he made 36 appearances and scored 2 goals in all competitions.

The 2008-09 season saw Elia make his UEFA Champions League debut in the third qualifying round against Arsenal, a match Twente lost 2-0. Though the club was eliminated (6-0 on aggregate), Elia continued to impress. He scored three goals in the first three league matches of the season against Roda JC, NEC Nijmegen, and FC Volendam. This was followed by a brace in a 5-0 KNVB Cup second-round victory against FC Emmen. Under new manager Steve McClaren, Elia thrived, consistently playing in midfield. In the UEFA Cup's play-off round against Stade Rennais, he provided a crucial assist in the first leg, which helped Twente advance to the group stage on away goals. His strong performances prompted the club to initiate talks for a new contract. By the end of the year, he had scored four more goals, including his first European goal in a 3-2 loss to Manchester City on November 6, 2008.

During the January transfer window, Arsenal, Ajax, and PSV expressed interest in signing Elia. Ajax's bids were reportedly rejected twice by Twente. On January 15, 2009, Elia ended the transfer speculation by signing a five-year contract extension, committing to Twente until 2013. He continued his prolific form, scoring his tenth goal of the season in a 4-1 win against NAC Breda on February 4, 2009, and later added three more league goals against FC Groningen, Roda JC, and AZ Alkmaar. In the Dutch Cup final against Heerenveen, Elia scored the opening goal, though Twente eventually lost on penalties. Despite missing three matches due to injury, he ended the 2008-09 season with 47 appearances and 14 goals across all competitions. For his outstanding contributions, Elia was awarded the Dutch Football Talent of the Year for 2009 (also known as the Johan Cruyff Trophy) and was named in Voetbal International's Team of the Season, solidifying his reputation as a rising star.

Despite signing a new contract, Elia announced his intention to leave Twente at the end of the 2008-09 season, stating he sought a club where he could "grow again." He was linked with Schalke 04, PSV, Hamburger SV, and Bayern Munich.

2.3. Hamburger SV

On July 5, 2009, Elia joined Bundesliga club Hamburger SV on a five-year contract for a transfer fee of 8.50 M EUR. He consulted with former and current Hamburger SV players like Joris Mathijsen, Romeo Castelen, Rafael van der Vaart, and Khalid Boulahrouz before making his decision. Notably, ADO Den Haag received 5% of the transfer fee as per a clause in his previous transfer. Upon joining, Elia expressed his happiness and hope that Hamburger SV would be a step forward in his development and help him secure a spot in the Netherlands national team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which he considered a "dream."

Elia faced an initial setback, suffering patella problems during pre-season training, sidelining him for a week. However, he recovered to make his debut for the club on August 9, 2009, as a 69th-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw against SC Freiburg on the opening day of the season. In his first start on August 15 against Borussia Dortmund, he assisted Paolo Guerrero's goal in a 4-1 win. Seven days later, on August 23, Elia scored his first goal for Hamburger SV in a 4-2 victory over VfL Wolfsburg. He also played a crucial role in the UEFA Europa League play-off round, assisting a goal in the first leg against Guingamp as Hamburger SV advanced 8-2 on aggregate.

Elia quickly established himself as a first-team regular, often rotating between midfield and striker positions. However, he found his role under manager Bruno Labbadia unsatisfying, preferring to play on the left wing. On September 12, 2009, he scored his second goal for the club and set up another in a 3-1 win against Stuttgart. His first Europa League goal came on October 1, 2009, in a 4-2 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv. On November 8, he scored his fourth goal of the season and assisted the opener in a 2-2 draw against Hannover 96, a match that also marked Robert Enke's final game.

On November 28, 2009, Elia suffered an ankle injury early in a match against Mainz 05, forcing his substitution. After missing one match, he returned on December 5 against 1899 Hoffenheim as a 61st-minute substitute in a 0-0 draw. In the following match against 1. FC Nürnberg, he scored twice and assisted the second goal in a 4-0 victory, with one of his goals later being named the Bundesliga Goal of the Month for December 2009. He subsequently missed two matches due to another ankle injury. He returned on February 28, 2010, starting against Bayern Munich in a 1-0 loss. However, this return was brief as he suffered another ankle injury requiring surgery, sidelining him for four weeks, which Labbadia described as a "bitter blow." Elia made his final appearance of the 2009-10 season in the last game against Werder Bremen, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw. Despite minor setbacks, he made 35 appearances and scored five goals in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2010-11 season, Elia was linked with clubs like Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Valencia. Despite the speculation, he expressed his desire to stay at Hamburg for another season, though he harbored aspirations to play in the UEFA Champions League. He started the season strongly, assisting the opening goal for Ruud van Nistelrooy in a 2-1 win against Schalke 04. Throughout his second season, Elia was rotated in and out of the starting lineup, often finding himself on the substitute bench. He voiced his dissatisfaction with this role, stating that he would consider leaving if he couldn't regain a consistent starting position. In October 2010, he suffered a heel bone injury while on international duty, keeping him out for a month. His return was further delayed by flu in November.

Elia made his return from a two-month absence on December 4, 2010, as a 71st-minute substitute in a 1-0 loss against SC Freiburg. He then scored two goals in consecutive matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach between December 11 and December 18. His performances continued to attract European interest in the January transfer window, but he remained at Hamburger SV. He was later dropped from the squad for three matches by manager Armin Veh. He returned to the starting lineup on March 12, 2011, in a heavy 6-0 defeat against Bayern Munich. In the following match against 1. FC Köln, Elia contributed with two assists in a 6-2 victory. However, further conflicts arose with Hamburger SV's management, with Elia feeling "no longer respected." He concluded the 2010-11 season with 25 appearances and two goals in all competitions.

As the 2011-12 season approached, Elia was again heavily linked with a move away, with expectations of his departure. Though he initially announced his intention to stay, Arsenal and Juventus engaged in a "tug of war" for his signature. On August 29, 2011, reports confirmed his agreement to sign for Juventus. Before his transfer, he made five appearances for Hamburger SV.

2.4. Juventus

On August 31, 2011, Juventus officially confirmed the signing of Elia from Hamburg on a four-year contract for a fee of 9.00 M EUR.

He made his debut for the Italian giants on September 25, 2011, starting the match and playing 45 minutes before being substituted at half-time in a 1-1 draw against Catania. In a Coppa Italia Round of 16 match against Bologna, Elia provided a crucial assist for Claudio Marchisio to score the winning goal in a 2-1 victory, helping Juventus advance. However, Elia found it challenging to make a significant impact due to intense competition in the midfield. He made only three more appearances for the club in the remainder of the 2011-12 season, as Juventus went on to win the Serie A title without losing a single game.

Following the season, on May 8, 2012, Elia publicly stated his intention to leave Juventus to revive his career elsewhere. His transfer request was granted by Juventus on June 11, 2012.

2.5. Werder Bremen

On July 9, 2012, Werder Bremen confirmed the signing of Elia from Juventus on a four-year contract for a fee of 5.50 M EUR. Upon joining, he expressed his familiarity with the Bundesliga, which he described as one of the best leagues globally, and his desire to make a quick impression and regain his spot in the national team through his performances for Werder Bremen.

Elia made his debut for Werder Bremen in the first round of the DFB-Pokal against Preußen Münster, where he scored his first goal for the club. However, he suffered a foot injury during the match and was substituted in the 59th minute, with Werder Bremen ultimately losing 3-2. He quickly recovered and returned to the starting lineup for the opening Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, a 2-1 loss. Elia soon established himself in the first team, playing primarily on the left wing.

Despite his regular playing time, Elia found it difficult to adapt to the club's playing style and had not scored a league goal in his first seven appearances, although he expressed patience. He faced criticism from the club's supporters and local newspaper, Weser Kurier, for his performances. As a result, he was eventually demoted to the substitute bench. In April 2013, Elia and teammate Marko Arnautović were suspended by the club after being caught speeding. Elia subsequently issued an apology for his actions. Despite being plagued by injuries throughout the 2012-13 season, he made 25 appearances and scored once in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2013-14 season, Elia returned to the first team after his suspension and participated in Werder Bremen's pre-season tour. Despite being linked with clubs like Liverpool, CSKA Moscow, and Ajax, he remained at Werder Bremen. He made his first appearance since his suspension in the opening game of the season against Eintracht Braunschweig, playing the full match in a 1-0 win. From then on, he consistently featured in the first team, playing in either midfield or striker positions. Elia also managed to win back the trust of the club's supporters, many of whom had initially not wanted him in the first team.

His first goals for Werder Bremen came on September 29, 2013, when he scored a brace in a 3-3 draw against 1. FC Nürnberg. He then scored two more goals in consecutive matches between November 24 and November 30, 2013, against 1. FSV Mainz 05 and 1899 Hoffenheim, respectively. He had been an ever-present in the squad until he was benched on March 8, 2014, against 1. FC Nuremberg. He returned to action on March 15, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw against Stuttgart. He continued to be involved in the first team for the remainder of the season, providing two assists in matches against Hannover 96 and Schalke 04 in late March and early April. Despite suffering two minor injuries throughout the 2013-14 season, Elia made 33 appearances and scored four goals. His improved performances that season convinced Werder Bremen to retain him.

In the opening game of the 2014-15 season, Elia provided an assist for Franco Di Santo in a 2-2 draw against Hertha BSC. He continued to feature prominently as a left-winger. However, following a dismal 6-0 loss against Bayern Munich on October 18, 2014, Elia was dropped from the squad for two matches due to poor performance. He returned to the starting lineup against Stuttgart on November 8, playing 56 minutes in a 2-0 win. His return to the first team was short-lived, as manager Viktor Skrypnyk dropped him from the squad the following month. Additionally, he was sidelined three times due to injuries during the first half of the season. By the time he left the club in the January transfer window, he had made 10 appearances across all competitions. Elia later expressed criticism of Werder Bremen's management during his time there.

Upon his return from his loan spell at Southampton in the summer of 2015, Elia publicly stated his unwillingness to return to Werder Bremen for the upcoming season. Consequently, the club exempted him from first-team training to allow him to find a new club, also considering placing him in the reserve squad. He continued to train with Werder Bremen throughout July while awaiting transfer offers.

2.6. Feyenoord

On August 6, 2015, Elia signed a two-year deal with Dutch side Feyenoord, opting to join them rather than making his move to Southampton permanent. He came under the management of former Arsenal player Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Upon joining, Elia stated he felt a connection with Rotterdam and its people's mentality, and that he had many Feyenoord-supporting friends in the city. He expressed belief in Feyenoord's potential and his desire to be an example for younger players, supporting them and providing extra impetus to the team.

His performance against PEC Zwolle drew praise from opposing player Bram van Polen, who remarked on Elia's unstoppable speed when he gets going: "I think Elia covers twenty meters in a second, so I need more help. Once he gets going, he's unstoppable. You can bring him down, but at some point, you've got enough cards and can't do that anymore. As soon as he starts coming after you, it gets difficult. The fact is, he's fast, and there's nothing I can do about that."

Elia made his debut for Feyenoord on August 30, 2015, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute in a 3-1 loss to rivals PSV. In the subsequent match, he scored his first goal for Feyenoord, securing a 1-0 victory against Willem II. On September 14, 2015, he played for Jong Feyenoord against Jong SC Cambuur and was sent off in the 36th minute for allegedly hitting an opponent during a 1-1 draw. However, the KNVB later decided against taking action due to "insufficient evidence," despite the opponent claiming it was a headbutt.

Following this incident, Elia scored two goals in two matches between September 27 and October 4, 2015, against PEC Zwolle and De Graafschap, respectively. Elia quickly established himself as a first-team regular, primarily playing on the left wing for the Rotterdam-based club. On March 6, 2016, he scored his fourth goal of the season in a 3-0 win against Heracles Almelo, followed by his fifth in a 3-1 win against SC Cambuur. Two weeks later, on March 19, he scored his sixth goal in a 3-1 win against De Graafschap and scored again in a 3-0 victory over Excelsior. His eighth goal came on April 20 in a 2-2 draw against Heracles Almelo.

Four days later, on April 24, 2016, Elia started in the KNVB Cup Final against FC Utrecht, where he played a role in the winning goal, helping Feyenoord clinch their 12th KNVB Cup title. He then helped Feyenoord secure third place in the league by beating Willem II 1-0 on May 1, 2016. Despite battling groin injuries on two occasions during the 2015-16 season, he made 37 appearances and scored eight goals across all competitions.

Ahead of the 2016-17 season, Elia signed a one-year contract extension with Feyenoord, keeping him at the club until 2018. He started on the left wing in the 2016 Johan Cruyff Shield match, where Feyenoord lost 1-0 to PSV. In the opening league game of the 2016-17 season, Elia scored a hat-trick in a dominant 5-0 win against FC Groningen, a game where he also dislocated a finger but quickly returned to the pitch, showing immense fighting spirit. This performance earned him Player of the Week honors from both Voetbal International and Algemeen Dagblad. However, he then suffered a shoulder injury in training, which sidelined him for two months.

Elia returned to the first team on October 23, 2016, as a 60th-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw against rivals Ajax, where he assisted the equalizing goal. Three days later, on October 26, he scored his fourth goal of the season in a 4-0 KNVB Cup victory over SBV Excelsior. Upon his return from injury, Elia regained his starting position on the left wing. He scored his fifth goal of the season on December 4, 2016, in a 6-1 win against Sparta Rotterdam. Subsequently, he played a crucial role for Feyenoord, providing five assists and scoring three times against Vitesse, Roda JC, and NEC Nijmegen, all of which were victories that helped the club maintain its lead at the top of the table. During this period, he briefly suffered a hamstring injury but quickly recovered. After enduring minor injuries, Elia sustained a foot injury that caused him to miss two matches.

On April 5, 2017, he returned from injury and scored his ninth goal of the season in a resounding 8-0 win against Go Ahead Eagles, helping Feyenoord bounce back from a previous defeat to Ajax. It was later revealed that Elia had received a knee injection to mitigate further injury. Two weeks later, on April 16, he scored his tenth goal of the season in a 2-0 win against Utrecht, maintaining the club's lead in the league. In the final game of the season against Heracles Almelo, Elia assisted Dirk Kuyt's hat-trick, contributing to a 3-1 victory that secured the Eredivisie title for Feyenoord. By the end of the 2016-17 season, he had made 31 appearances and scored 10 goals across all competitions.

Following this successful season, Elia announced his intention to leave Feyenoord, expressing a desire to play abroad. He was linked with moves to Fenerbahçe and İstanbul Başakşehir. During his time at Feyenoord, Elia became a fan favorite, with supporters frequently chanting 'Oe-Ah-Elia'.

2.7. İstanbul Başakşehir

On June 13, 2017, Elia joined Turkish side İstanbul Başakşehir on a three-year contract. He cited family considerations as a factor in his decision to move to Turkey.

He made an immediate impact, debuting for the club on July 26, 2017, in a UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first leg match against Club Brugge. He scored his first goal for the club in the 62nd minute of the game, which ended in a 3-3 away draw. In the return leg, Elia started and helped İstanbul Başakşehir secure a 2-0 victory, advancing to the next round. His first appearance in the Süper Lig came on August 11, 2017, where he scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Bursaspor. Elia continued to contribute in the Champions League play-off round, scoring in both legs against Sevilla, but the club was ultimately eliminated with a 4-3 aggregate loss. He quickly established himself as a first-team regular, primarily playing on the left wing.

In late November 2017, Elia suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery, sidelining him for two months. He returned to action on February 18, 2018, as a 74th-minute substitute in a 1-0 win against Trabzonspor. He then scored three goals in consecutive matches between March 18 and April 6, 2018, against Beşiktaş, Alanyaspor, and Yeni Malatyaspor. On April 20, he scored his eighth goal of the season in a 3-1 win against Kayserispor. He followed this by providing three assists in the next three matches. Elia concluded the 2017-18 season with 32 appearances and eight goals across all competitions, helping İstanbul Başakşehir finish third in the league.

Ahead of the 2018-19 season, Elia was linked with a move away from İstanbul Başakşehir, with interest from various European clubs, but he ultimately remained with the Turkish side. However, this season was largely impacted by injuries, which significantly reduced his playing time. Despite these setbacks, he managed to score his only goal of the season on January 28, 2019, in a 1-1 draw against Kasımpaşa. Although Elia aimed to help İstanbul Başakşehir win their first league title, the club finished in second place after surrendering their title chances to Galatasaray with a 2-1 loss on May 19, 2019. He ended the 2018-19 season with 24 appearances and one goal in all competitions.

For the 2019-20 season, Elia was again linked with a transfer, this time to Beşiktaş, but he chose to stay. He suffered an injury in the 23rd minute against Fenerbahçe on August 24, 2019, in a 2-0 loss, which caused him to miss two subsequent matches. He returned from injury on September 27, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute and assisting the fourth goal in a 5-0 win against Çaykur Rizespor. Elia scored his first goal of the season on December 28, 2019, in a 5-1 victory over Kasımpaşa. He continued to be involved in the first team until the season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. At that point, he had made 24 appearances and scored once.

When the season resumed behind closed doors in June 2020, Elia scored in his first appearance for İstanbul Başakşehir in three months, netting in the final minutes of a 2-0 win against Antalyaspor on July 4. A week later, on July 13, he scored his third goal of the season in a 4-3 loss against Konyaspor. In the following match against Kayserispor, Elia helped the club secure a 1-0 win, which ultimately led to İstanbul Başakşehir winning the Süper Lig title for the first time in their history, a significant career target for him. He concluded the 2019-20 season with 30 appearances and three goals in all competitions.

On March 20, 2020, Elia announced that he would be leaving İstanbul Başakşehir at the end of the 2019-20 season. His contract with the club officially expired on August 19, 2020, making him a free agent.

2.8. FC Utrecht

On August 19, 2020, Elia signed a two-year contract with Utrecht on a free transfer from İstanbul Başakşehir. Before making his decision, he had been linked with clubs in Italy and Argentina but chose to return to his homeland. Elia expressed his satisfaction with Utrecht's "very nice proposal" and their ambitious plans, stating that it aligned with his own desire to continue growing as a player and contribute to a club that was continuously improving.

Elia made his first appearance for FC Utrecht on September 18, 2020, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute in a 1-1 away draw against VVV-Venlo in the Eredivisie. During his initial period at Utrecht, Elia struggled to secure a consistent starting spot as he worked to maintain his fitness. He also faced criticism for not living up to expectations since joining the club, though he dismissed such critiques, stating that "a lot has happened" and that he was annoyed by the negative comments.

On December 22, 2020, Elia scored his first goal for Utrecht in a 3-2 away victory against Emmen. In the subsequent league match on December 27, he scored the opening goal against AZ. However, on January 11, 2021, the club announced that Elia had suffered a hamstring injury, which would sideline him for several weeks. His return was delayed until April, despite returning to training months earlier. He finally made his return on April 11, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in a 2-1 loss against Feyenoord. Following this, Elia saw more consistent involvement in FC Utrecht's remaining matches of the 2020-21 season, though he candidly described this period as the "heaviest period in my entire career." By the end of the 2020-21 season, he had made 23 appearances and scored two goals in all competitions.

On July 30, 2021, ahead of the 2021-22 season, Elia's contract with FC Utrecht was terminated by mutual agreement, making him a free agent.

2.9. Return to ADO Den Haag

In the autumn of 2021, Elia began training with his former club, ADO Den Haag, who were then competing in the second-tier Eerste Divisie. On November 18, 2021, he signed a contract with the club until the end of the season. However, in late January 2022, he suffered a ligament tear in his ankle that required surgery, effectively ending his season.

3.1. Youth

Elia's international career began in March 2005 when he was called up to the Netherlands U-19 national team. He made his debut on March 23, 2005, starting in a 2-2 draw against Austria U19. On May 14, 2005, he scored his first two goals for the U-19 team in a 2-0 victory over Czech Republic U19. His third goal for the U-19 national team came on September 2, 2005, in a 1-0 win against Iceland U19. A month later, on October 19, 2005, he scored twice in a 2-2 draw against Germany U19. In total, Elia made 10 appearances and scored six goals for the U-19 national team.

His rapid development led to his selection for the Netherlands U-21 for the first time in early 2006. He debuted for the U-21 team on August 15, 2006, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute and scoring from a penalty in a 2-2 draw against Germany U21. He made two more appearances for the Netherlands U-21 by the end of that year. On August 10, 2007, Elia was again called up to the U-21 national team, making an appearance 12 days later as a 67th-minute substitute in a 1-0 win against Macedonia U21. He concluded his U-21 career with seven appearances and two goals.

Elia also made his debut for the Netherlands U-20 team on February 7, 2007, as a second-half substitute in a 3-1 loss against Denmark U20. A month later, on March 23, 2007, he scored his first goals for the U-20 national team in a 3-2 victory over Ukraine U20. He made five appearances and scored two goals for the Netherlands U-20. Later that year, on November 19, 2008, he made one appearance for the Netherlands B team against Sweden U21, which ended in a 3-0 loss.

3.2. Senior

In May 2009, Elia received his first call-up to the Netherlands senior squad for friendly matches against Iceland and Norway under coach Bert van Marwijk, though he was eventually dropped from the final squad. He was again selected for a friendly against England but was dropped once more.

On September 6, 2009, Elia finally made his debut for the Netherlands against Japan in a friendly match. He came on at half-time to replace Arjen Robben and immediately made an impact, assisting two goals in a 3-0 victory. Former Dutch international and pundit Jaap Stam praised Elia's performance, noting that "every movement of Elia was a threat to the opponent." In just his second international match, on September 9, 2009, Elia scored the only goal to secure a win against Scotland in a World Cup qualifier. He made his first start for the senior team on October 10, 2009, in a 0-0 draw against Australia. He then made three consecutive starts in the following three matches. On June 5, 2010, he scored his second international goal in a 6-1 friendly win over Hungary with a solo effort after coming on as a substitute.

In May 2010, Elia was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, despite lingering uncertainties over an injury he had sustained while playing for Hamburger SV. On May 27, 2010, Bert van Marwijk confirmed Elia's inclusion in the final 23-man squad. Prior to the tournament, Elia generated controversy in the Dutch media when he used a derogatory term in a tweet, prompting a ban on social media use for the team. He subsequently issued an apology for his actions.

In the Netherlands' first World Cup match against Denmark, Elia came on as a 72nd-minute substitute. His shot hit the post, and Dirk Kuyt tapped in the rebound for the second goal in a 2-0 win. Throughout the tournament, Elia primarily featured as a substitute, often coming on to inject pace and dribbling into the attack. He embraced this role, stating it was "nice to fill in" and that his teammates provided good support. In the final against Spain, Elia entered as a 71st-minute substitute for Kuyt, as the Netherlands ultimately finished as runners-up following a 1-0 defeat.

Following the World Cup, Elia continued to be called up to the national squad. He made his first start of the year on September 3, 2010, against San Marino, playing 59 minutes in a 5-0 victory. After a four-month absence, he was recalled in January 2011 and made his first appearance in five months on February 9, 2011, as a second-half substitute in a 3-1 win against Austria. He played a role in helping the senior national team qualify for UEFA Euro 2012 after beating Finland 2-0 on September 6, 2011.

After a year-long absence from the national team, Elia was called up again on October 13, 2012. Three days later, on October 16, he made his first appearance for the national team in over a year, coming on as a late substitute in a 4-1 win against Romania. He made another appearance in a subsequent friendly against Germany, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 0-0 draw. Following another three-year absence, he was called up in October 2015 but did not play. In May 2018, Elia received a call-up for the first time in almost two years. He made his first appearance for the senior team in almost six years on May 31, 2018, as a 75th-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw against Slovakia. Elia made his final international appearance on June 4, 2018, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw against Italy. He concluded his senior international career with 30 appearances and two goals.

7.1. Club

7.2. International goals