Elias Baum (born 2005) is a highly promising German youth international who has enjoyed a breakout season in senior football. A product of Eintracht Frankfurt’s renowned academy, the 19-year-old fullback has spent the campaign on loan at SV Elversberg in the 2. Bundesliga, where he has been a pivotal figure in their promotion push. Baum has started 21 of Elversberg’s 22 matches, showcasing his well-rounded skill set and leaving a lasting impression with his technical qualities and maturity.

With his loan spell set to conclude in the summer, Baum will return to Frankfurt, where he remains under contract until 2028. The talented defender will be eager to stake his claim at his boyhood club and cement himself as a key figure in Eintracht’s youthful and exciting squad.

Injury History

No known injuries that should have an impact on his value or future potential.

Player Style

Elias Baum is a Complete Fullback. He is a player who is equally competent offensively as defensively and impacts the game at both ends of the pitch. He always tries to push forward with good timing without forgetting about his defensive responsibilities

Player Model: Philipp Lahm

Strengths

Timing for Engagement in Isolated Defensive Duels

Elias Baum can occasionally face difficulties against highly dynamic and explosive wingers. However, he generally excels in one-on-one duels, demonstrating sharp defensive instincts and well-timed challenges. Baum is adept at closing down exit routes for his opponents and shows excellent judgment when going to ground, often timing his tackles with precision.

Superb Defensive Reactions after Turnovers

Elias Baum displays outstanding defensive awareness and quick reactions following turnovers. He swiftly shuts down dangerous interior passing lanes, either intercepting the ball or effectively stalling the opponent’s counter-attack by steering play toward less threatening wide areas.

Timing for Engaging in Front-Footed Duels or Aggressive Pressing Sequences

Elias Baum demonstrates impressive timing when stepping out of the backline to make aggressive, front-footed defensive interventions. He consistently anticipates these moments early, arriving on his opponent just as they receive possession to force a turnover or effectively disrupt the opponent’s forward progression.

Mature Ability to Draw Fouls

Baum excels at drawing fouls when pressed against the touchline with his back to the opponent’s goal. This ability to manufacture fouls and relieve pressure highlights his remarkable maturity, implementing a game-savvy maneuver typically performed by experienced veterans far beyond his years.

Technical Passing Ability

Elias Baum is a highly proficient and well-rounded short passer. He is comfortable using both feet, and he displays quick decision-making to execute sharp one- and two-touch passes effectively. Under pressure, he consistently finds reliable short-range solutions, maintaining composure and minimizing costly errors during build-up play.

Medium & Long Distance Speed

Elias Baum possesses excellent speed over medium and long distances, a trait that greatly enhances his ability to execute impressive defensive recovery runs. His pace allows him to track back, overtake opponents, and make crucial last-ditch interventions to prevent dangerous opportunities.

Balanced & Versatile Profile

Baum possesses a well-rounded and versatile profile, making him an ideal player to adapt to a range of tactical and stylistic demands. While he may not be a specialist fullback, his ability to adjust his game to suit different systems and coaching philosophies allows him to excel in diverse roles and setups.

Close Control Dribbling & Turning Ability

Baum navigates congested areas effectively, using quick directional shifts, and subtle body feints. While he may lack the ability to consistently beat opponents in 1v1 situations, he excels at manipulating the ball skillfully to retain possession and relieve pressure under duress.

⭐Intelligent & Effective Driven Crossing & Cutback Ability

Baum possesses an exceptional driven crossing technique, paired with advanced awareness of teammates in dangerous final-third positions. His deliveries are crisp and precise, enabling teammates to connect with clean, one-touch finishes. Additionally, his strong spatial awareness allows him to identify not only targets inside the penalty area but also unmarked runners in his peripheral vision. He consistently finds the most impactful option, demonstrating impressive vision and execution in wide areas.

Weaknesses

Deep Aerial Crossing

Baum excels at creating opportunities with incisive cutbacks and driven crosses, but his aerial deliveries from half-space positions could use refinement. These floated crosses are often overhit or delivered in situations where his team lacks the necessary numerical advantage in the penalty area to effectively capitalize on them.

Throw-in Technique

Baum's throw-ins lack the sharpness and directness needed to maintain possession. They often hang in the air, inviting pressure and putting his teammates in difficult positions where retaining possession becomes a challenge. This issue is particularly concerning given Baum's frequent involvement in these set-pieces.

Ball Carrying Follow-up Actions

Baum sometimes struggles to effectively conclude his ball carries with a precise pass or creative action. During high-speed runs, he often finds it difficult to make the right pass and can be easily unbalanced or pushed off the ball.

First Touch

Baum frequently requires corrective touches, failing to completely control and manipulate play with his first contact. This is particularly concerning in the final third, where a poor first touch hampers his ability to exploit gaps and take advantage of small openings against opposition defences.

Agility & Skillfulness to Effectively Master 1v1 Scenarios

Baum possesses strong long and medium-distance speed, but his acceleration is fairly average for a fullback. Additionally, he lacks the technical flair and trickery needed to consistently beat opponents and navigate challenges in wide areas. These two limitations particularly hinder his ability to dominate isolated 1v1 situations and reduce his threat as a dribbler and progressive ball carrier in wide channels.

⭐ Long Range Passing

Baum’s long-range passing remains a significant weakness. His vertical passes down the line are often intercepted or go out of bounds, while his lateral switches of play tend to be under hit and easily cut out. To effectively relieve pressure in critical moments, Baum will need to develop greater accuracy and consistency in this area.

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GRADING

Current Ability

A club/level of club where the player has the qualities to play at least 70% of available minutes right now.

6/10 - A Starting Player for a Modest Bundesliga Outfit

• FC St. Pauli

• Holstein Kiel

• FC Heidenheim

Potential Ability

A club/level of club where the player has the qualities to play at least 70% of available minutes at his career peak.

8.5/10 - A Club With Outside Title Ambitions

• RB Leipzig

• AC Milan

• Atletico Madrid

Likelihood To Reach Peak Ability

High. Elias Baum is making impressive strides in the early months of his senior career. Playing a high volume of competitive senior football at his age is invaluable for his development, and he already showcases several mature and refined aspects to his game. His well-rounded player profile further enhances his versatility, allowing him to adapt to a variety of tactical systems and game models.

OVERVIEW

Elias Baum is one of the most exciting young fullbacks in German football and arguably the brightest prospect to fill the right-back role that the national team has struggled to address since Philipp Lahm’s retirement. Baum boasts a well-rounded profile, demonstrating competence both in possession and defensively. While there is room for improvement in his ball carrying, first touch, and aerial deliveries, his early adaptation to the general challenges of the 2. Bundesliga is highly promising. With his continued development, there is real hope that Germany may have finally found a worthy successor to Philipp Lahm in the right-back position.

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