PLAYER SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elias Saad |
| Date of Birth | 27 December 1999 (Age: 26) |
| Place of Birth | Hamburg, Germany |
| Nationality | Tunisian / German |
| Height | 1.85 m / 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 72–79 kg / 159–174 lbs |
| Position | Left Winger / Attacking Midfielder / Striker |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Squad Number | — |
| Current Club | Nashville SC (on loan from FC Augsburg) |
| Previous Clubs | FC St. Pauli, Hannover 96, Eintracht Norderstedt, HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst, Buxtehuder SV |
| International Caps | 17 |
| International Goals | 3–4 |
| World Cup Appearances | 2026 (started 2 of 3 matches) |
| Contract Until | 2029 (FC Augsburg) / Loan through 2027 MLS Sprint Season |
| Market Value | €1.5M (peak €3.8M, Dec 2025) |
The Frozen Moment
Estadio BBVA, Monterrey. June 15, 2026. Tunisia and Sweden, locked in a World Cup group-stage opener. For Elias Saad, the 26-year-old winger from Hamburg who had risen from Germany’s fifth division to the global stage, this was the moment that justified a decade of perseverance.
He started the match, playing 72 minutes against the Scandinavian giants. But the tournament was brutal—a 5-1 defeat to Sweden. Four days later came Japan—a 4-0 loss where Saad played 45 minutes. Then the Netherlands—a 3-1 defeat, with Saad an unused substitute.
Tunisia crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage for the seventh time in their history, conceding 12 goals across three matches. But for Saad, the boy from the Wilhelmsburg district of Hamburg who had never spent time in a professional academy as a youngster, the World Cup was a dream fulfilled. He had started two of his nation’s three matches on football’s biggest stage.
Just weeks later, on July 16, 2026, Saad made another life-changing move—joining Nashville SC on loan from FC Augsburg through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season. The journey from Hamburg’s lower divisions to the World Cup to Major League Soccer was complete.
“Elias is an exciting attacking player who has the ability to both create and finish scoring chances,” Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs said. The boy who had once trained as a wholesale and retail salesman while playing amateur football had arrived.
Origins
Elias Saad was born on December 27, 1999, in Hamburg, Germany. He is of Tunisian descent, giving him eligibility to represent the Eagles of Carthage on the international stage.
His footballing journey began in the youth system of Buxtehuder SV. Unlike many professional footballers, Saad never spent time in a professional club’s academy as a youngster. He worked his way up through Germany’s lower divisions through hard work and determination.
His international career began in an unexpected way. Before representing Tunisia in football, Saad played for the Germany national futsal team, becoming the youngest player to make an appearance for the side. He played futsal for the Hamburg Panthers and earned five caps for Germany’s futsal team, scoring one goal.
The Forge
Early Career & Lower Divisions (2017–2022):
Saad’s senior career began with Buxtehuder SV in 2017, where he played for two seasons in the Landesliga. In 2019, he signed for HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst in the fifth-tier Oberliga Hamburg, making 30 appearances, scoring 13 goals and providing 7 assists.
In March 2021, Saad joined Regionalliga Nord side Eintracht Norderstedt, signing a two-year contract. He scored 10 goals and recorded four assists in just 17 appearances in the first half of the 2022–23 season.
FC St. Pauli (2022–2025):
On December 1, 2022, Saad was announced as signing for 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli. He made his debut on April 16, 2023, and scored his first league goal the following week in the derby against Hamburger SV.
In the 2023–24 season, Saad played 30 league games and had a hand in nine goals as St. Pauli achieved promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2010–11. The following season, he played 18 Bundesliga matches, scoring three goals and recording two assists, though an ankle ligament injury forced him to spend several weeks on the sidelines.
FC Augsburg (2025–Present):
In the summer of 2025, Saad signed for Bundesliga club FC Augsburg, marking the first time he would ply his trade outside of northern Germany. He made 10 Bundesliga appearances for Augsburg in the 2025–26 season, primarily as a substitute.
Hannover 96 (Loan, 2025–2026):
Saad was loaned to Hannover 96 in the 2. Bundesliga for the second half of the 2025–26 season. At Hannover, he played 14 matches and contributed 3 assists.
Nashville SC (Loan, 2026–Present):
On July 16, 2026, Saad joined Nashville SC on loan from FC Augsburg through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, occupying an international roster spot. He made his MLS debut on August 1, 2026, playing 28 minutes in a 2-2 draw at DC United. He also featured in the Leagues Cup against León on August 6, playing 90 minutes.
International Career:
Saad received his first call-up to the Tunisia national team in August 2023. He made his debut on March 26, 2024, in a friendly against New Zealand. He has made 17 appearances for Tunisia, scoring 3–4 goals and adding 2 assists. At the 2026 World Cup, he started two of Tunisia’s three group matches.
The Anatomy of His Game
Elias Saad is a 26-year-old left winger defined by his technical ability, pace, dribbling, and physical presence. Standing at 1.85 meters, he is taller than most wingers, which allows him to contribute physically while maintaining technical quality.
In Possession:
Saad is an exceptionally talented dribbler with the ability to beat his man one-on-one and open space for teammates. His futsal background has given him impeccable close control and a keen eye for space. At Hannover in 2026, he ranked in the 100th percentile for touches in the opposition box and successful dribbles per 90, and the 94.9th percentile for assists and expected assists per 90.
He is also a strong passer, sitting in the 87th percentile or higher in pass success rate, long ball success rate, and crossing success rate per 90 among his peers. Across Germany’s top two divisions, he has recorded 12 goals and 8 assists in 78 career league appearances.
Out of Possession:
Saad’s physical traits make him a different profile to many wingers. He ranks in the 96th percentile for duels won, 78.8th percentile for aerial duels won per 90, and 79.8th percentile for percentage of aerial duels won per 90 among wingers in the Bundesliga. He also has solid defensive contributions, ranking in the 84th percentile for defensive actions. He possesses an eagerness to press, making him a natural fit in modern systems.
Psychological Edge:
Saad’s mental resilience is the cornerstone of his journey. A self-proclaimed late bloomer, he worked his way from the fifth tier of German football to the Bundesliga, never having spent time in a professional academy. He balanced his early football career with training as a wholesale and retail salesman. He overcame an ankle ligament injury that forced him to miss several weeks in the 2024–25 season. Off the pitch, he is a self-proclaimed anime fan, particularly of the manga series Naruto, and counts Franck Ribéry among his sporting role models.
The Numbers Game
TABLE A: The Data Snapshot (2025/26 Season)
| Competition | Apps | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga (FC Augsburg) | 10 | 501 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2. Bundesliga (Hannover 96, loan) | 14 | 1,204 | 0 | 3 | — |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 (Tunisia) | 2 | 117 | 0 | 0 | 5.95 |
| MLS (Nashville SC) | 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 6.78 |
| TOTAL | 27 | 1,850 | 0 | 3 | — |
TABLE B: Career (League)
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2021 | HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst | Oberliga Hamburg | 30 | 13 |
| 2021–2022 | Eintracht Norderstedt | Regionalliga Nord | 38 | 18 |
| 2022–23 | FC St. Pauli II | Regionalliga Nord | 4 | 3 |
| 2022–23 | FC St. Pauli | 2. Bundesliga | 7 | 2 |
| 2023–24 | FC St. Pauli | 2. Bundesliga | 30 | 6 |
| 2024–25 | FC St. Pauli | Bundesliga | 18 | 3 |
| 2025–26 | FC Augsburg | Bundesliga | 10 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | Hannover 96 (loan) | 2. Bundesliga | 14 | 0 |
| TOTAL | — | — | ~151 | 45 |
TABLE C: International Record (2024–2026)
| Tournament/Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friendlies | — | — | — |
| FIFA World Cup 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL | 17 | 3–4 | 2 |
TABLE D: Career Milestones
| Year | Achievement | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Youth Career | Buxtehuder SV |
| 2019 | Senior Debut | HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst |
| 2021 | Norderstedt Move | Signed two-year contract |
| 2022 | Professional Debut | FC St. Pauli |
| 2023 | First Professional Goal | Derby vs Hamburger SV |
| 2024 | Tunisia Debut | vs New Zealand |
| 2024–25 | Bundesliga Debut | With FC St. Pauli |
| 2025 | Augsburg Move | Signed for Bundesliga club |
| 2026 | World Cup Selection | Named in Tunisia’s 26-man squad |
| 2026 | World Cup Appearances | Started vs Sweden and Japan |
| 2026 | MLS Move | Nashville SC loan |
What these figures reveal is a player of late-blooming success. Saad has made over 150 professional appearances across the German pyramid, scoring 45 goals. His 17 international caps and World Cup experience demonstrate his value to Tunisia. His market value peaked at €3.8M in December 2025. His move to MLS represents the next step in a remarkable career trajectory.
The Present Tense
Elias Saad is 26 years old, entering the prime of his career. He is Nashville SC’s winger on loan from FC Augsburg, a Tunisian international, and a 2026 World Cup participant.
The Nashville SC Story:
Saad joined Nashville SC on loan on July 16, 2026, through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season. He made his debut on August 1, 2026, playing 28 minutes in a 2-2 draw at DC United. He also featured in the Leagues Cup against León on August 6, playing 90 minutes. He is expected to add depth to Nashville’s attacking corps, with General Manager Mike Jacobs describing him as a player who “fits into our group’s identity on and off the field.”
The World Cup Campaign:
Saad was named in Tunisia’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting two of the team’s three group matches. He played 72 minutes against Sweden (5-1 loss) and 45 minutes against Japan (4-0 loss). Tunisia finished bottom of Group F without a point.
International Record:
Saad has earned 17 caps for Tunisia since his debut in 2024, scoring 3–4 goals and adding 2 assists. He has represented Tunisia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Beyond the Touchline
Off the pitch, Elias Saad is defined by his remarkable journey from Germany’s lower divisions to the World Cup. He never spent time in a professional football club’s academy as a youngster and had to work his way up through the ranks. He trained as a wholesale and retail salesman while playing amateur football.
His international career has been shaped by his heritage. Born in Hamburg to a Tunisian family, he chose to represent the Eagles of Carthage at the senior level after previously playing futsal for Germany.
A self-proclaimed anime fan, particularly of the manga series Naruto, Saad has also named Franck Ribéry among his sporting role models. His move to Nashville SC represents the next chapter in his career.
The Verdict from the Camp
Nashville SC
, on Saad’s signing:
Elias is an exciting attacking player who has the ability to both create and finish scoring chances. He fits into our group’s identity on and off the field and we look forward to being able to add him into an already potent attacking corps.
FC Augsburg
, on Saad’s profile:
A late bloomer with pace. Saad is a pacey and technically gifted winger. Despite never spending time in a professional football club’s academy as a youngster, the attacker still managed to work his way to the top through his hard work and desire.
Nashville SC
, on Saad’s playstyle:
Saad is a physical winger who is tall (6’1″) and uses his size to help his team gain control of matches. He is an exceptionally talented dribbler with the ability to beat his man one-on-one and open space for teammates. His futsal background has given him impeccable close-control and a keen eye for space.
FotMob
, on Saad’s MLS debut:
Saad made his MLS debut on August 1, 2026, playing 28 minutes in a 2-2 draw at DC United.
FBref.com
, on Saad’s physical stats:
Saad stands at 185cm tall.
Where Next?
Elias Saad is 26 years old and entering the prime of his career. He is on loan at Nashville SC from FC Augsburg, a Tunisian international with 17 caps, and a World Cup participant.
For Tunisia
, Saad is a key player. He started two of Tunisia’s three World Cup matches. He will be expected to continue contributing to the Eagles of Carthage in future tournaments, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
For Nashville SC
, Saad is a promising asset. He has joined on loan through the 2027 MLS Sprint Season. He is expected to provide creativity, dribbling, and physical presence on the wing for the Boys in Gold.
For FC Augsburg
, Saad’s future will be determined by his performance in MLS. He will return to Augsburg after his loan spell. His market value peaked at €3.8M in December 2025.
His career trajectory is one of late-blooming success—from Hamburg’s fifth division to the Bundesliga, from futsal to football, from Germany to the World Cup with Tunisia. He has overcome the lack of a professional academy upbringing, injury setbacks, and the challenges of balancing football with work to reach the highest level.
The boy from Wilhelmsburg who worked his way through the lower divisions, who played futsal for Germany, who represented Tunisia at a World Cup, who now brings his talents to MLS—Elias Saad’s journey is a story of perseverance, adaptability, and the pursuit of a dream on football’s greatest stage.
