Ex-Premier League & Juventus star survives car crash which destroyed his £270k Lamborghini with former winger questioned by police

Elia was involved in the serious four-car crash on Saturday night when his Lamborghini collided with three other cars on the A4 motorway near Leiden in the Netherlands. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries, though two drivers were taken to the police station, including Elia, for questioning and testing. Reports suggest alcohol may have been a factor in the collision. According to Elia, his car skidded after he attempted to brake as traffic ahead suddenly stopped. The motorway was closed for several hours while police investigated and the damaged vehicles were cleared. Elia has stated that only the cars were damaged and everyone was shocked.

Following the smash, Elia said: "I was driving in a stretch that's normally quiet around that time. Suddenly, I saw the traffic in front of me brake and come to a standstill, I tried to brake, but I skidded. I told them (the police) what happened and then I went home."

Elia’s time in England - where he made 17 appearances in all competitions between January and May 2015 - peaked during the Saints’ clash with Newcastle where he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory. Southampton opted not to make his move permanent at the end of his loan spell, and he returned to Werder Bremen. Elia had joined Southampton with the aim of rebuilding his career and reputation, having faced some off-field issues and limited playing time before the move. He mentioned that playing under manager Ronald Koeman was a decisive factor in his decision to join the Saints. 

Elia played as a winger throughout his career, known for his speed, flair, and dribbling ability and retired from playing in 2022 after suffering a ligament tear in his ankle. He began his career in the youth ranks of Den Haag in the Netherlands, eventually making his senior team debut in 2004. He then moved to FC Twente in 2007, where his performances earned him the Dutch Football Talent of the Year award in 2009. After a successful period at Hamburg in Germany, Elia joined Italian giants Juventus in 2011, where he won a Serie A title, but struggled for regular playing time. He returned to Germany in 2012, signing for Werder Bremen, before his loan spell at Southampton in the Premier League. He later returned to the Netherlands with Feyenoord, where he won the Dutch Cup in 2016 and the Eredivisie title in 2017. He later played for Basaksehir in Turkey, winning the Super Lig in 2020 and concluded his career with spells at Utrecht and a short return to Den Haag. Elia also earned 30 caps for the Dutch national team between 2009 and 2018, scoring two goals and was a member of the Netherlands squad which reached the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.