CD Eldense guaranteed the permanence of one of its main defenders for the coming seasons. The Azulgrana club executed the extension clause in Floris Smand’s contract, which is now valid until June 30, 2028.
The 23-year-old Dutch central defender arrived in Elda last summer, coming from SC Cambuur, with an initial contract until 2027. After a standout season, Eldense opted to extend the agreement by one year, shielding the player from possible interests from other clubs.
Smand quickly established himself as a key part of the defense. In the campaign that ended with access to the Second Division, the defender played 37 official matches, being an absolute starter in all of them and accumulating more than 3,300 minutes on the field — the highest volume among the squad’s outfield players.
His regularity, combined with attributes such as strength in the air, anticipation and quality in passing the ball, made him the leader of the Azulgrana defense. The Dutchman also contributed to the attack by scoring a goal during the season.
The decision to extend the contract reflects Eldense’s planning for the season in the Hypermotion League. The sporting management saw Smand as a pillar of the continuity project, especially after the recent success that took the club back to the second division of Spanish football.
Formed in Cambuur’s youth teams, the 1.87m player had already spent time on loan in Swedish football before arriving in Spain. Her quick adaptation to Elda’s style and environment made it easy to stay.
Eldense begins planning for the Second Division
With Smand’s renewal, the club takes the first concrete step in assembling the squad for the new stage. The maintenance of defensive pillars is seen as essential to face the increased competitiveness in the second division.
Smand himself demonstrated his commitment by having his representative in a recent meeting with the board, which paved the way for the clause to be activated.