Arsenal and Manchester United have both been linked with Kauã Elias, but many supporters in England may only be hearing his name for the first time.
The 20-year-old striker left Brazilian side Fluminense for Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this year and has already started to build a reputation in Europe.
He’s still developing, but there’s a reason Premier League clubs are keeping tabs on him.
So what type of player is he?
A modern number nine
Kauã Elias isn’t the traditional penalty-box striker who waits for chances to arrive.
He’s a modern centre-forward who combines physical strength with pace and constant movement. Standing at 1.81m, he uses his body well to shield the ball and can hold off bigger defenders before bringing teammates into play.
His biggest weapon is probably his movement. He likes to drift away from centre-backs, pull into wider areas and then attack the space behind the defensive line. That makes him difficult to mark because he rarely stays in one position for long.
That versatility comes from his development. Kauã Elias didn’t grow up solely as a centre-forward. He spent time as a midfielder before joining Fluminense’s academy and was later used as a winger, experiences that still show in the way he drifts into wide areas and links play.
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|League 2026|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Appearances|18||||
|Started|9||||
|Minutes per game|54||||
|Total minutes played|968||||
|Goals|6||||
|Asssits|2||||
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Once he gets into the box, he usually needs very little time to finish. He’s comfortable shooting with either foot and is also strong in the air thanks to his leap and timing.
There’s plenty of energy without the ball too. Kauã Elias presses aggressively from the front and is happy to lead the first line of pressure, something that naturally appeals to clubs looking for high-intensity forwards.
Not always a striker
Interestingly, he wasn’t always a number 9. Growing up in Minas Gerais state, he initially played as a midfielder before joining Fluminense’s academy in 2017. Coaches first moved him out wide before eventually converting him into a centre-forward.
His grandfather, José Elias, even played a small role in that transformation. Kauã Elias has previously revealed that he used to pass instead of shooting when through on goal. His grandfather promised to pay him R$25 for every goal he scored, encouraging him to become more ruthless in front of goal.
“It got to the point where he said we had to stop, otherwise he’d go bankrupt,” the striker joked.
The finishing instinct quickly followed. He became one of the standout goalscorers in Fluminense’s academy, represented Brazil at youth level and quickly forced his way into the senior side.
The belief around him was obvious from an early age. Before turning 17, he became the youngest player ever to represent Fluminense in the Copa Libertadores, making his debut at 16 years, 11 months and 28 days. That is why Everton showed interest in him around 2024.
Fluminense’s golden lineage
Fluminense’s academy has become one of Brazil’s best production lines for forwards.
Bournemouth’s Evanilson and Chelsea’s João Pedro all came through the system before establishing themselves at the highest level, and Kauã Elias has long been viewed as the next striker capable of making that leap.
So there are already England connections already set. Actually, Kauã Elias has often spoken about João Pedro as both a close friend and a career inspiration.
The pair used to play video games together while João Pedro was beginning his own European journey at Watford, and Kauã Elias has openly admitted he hopes to follow a similar path.
“João Pedro is my friend, we used to play video games together”, he said. “He went to Watford, and we’ve kept in touch. He’s someone I’m inspired by to pursue a similar career: going to Europe and making it there.”
Built for the Premier League?
Last season brought another big step. Kauã Elias registered 11 goals and seven assists in 36 appearances as Shakhtar Donetsk won the Ukrainian league title and secured qualification for the Champions League league phase.
At just 20, there’s still plenty of development ahead. His decision-making in crowded penalty areas can become more consistent and, like many young forwards, he’s still learning when to speed attacks up and when to slow attacks down. Those refinements usually come with experience.
But all those qualities help explain why Arsenal and Manchester United are already watching his progress. If he continues developing at this rate, they probably won’t be the only Premier League clubs following him for much longer.
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