*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:02, 20 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:22, 2 September 2021 (UTC)
Elder was born to an Irish mother and Scottish father. His maternal grandfather is former Republic of Ireland international footballer Paddy Turner.[3]
Club career
Leicester City
A left back, Elder was born in Sydney, Australia and began his youth career with Manly United, before moving to England at the age of 16 to begin a scholarship in the academy at Leicester City.[4] After completing his scholarship at the end of the 2012–13 season, he was awarded his first professional contract.[5] Graduating to the Foxes' U21 team, he progressed to sign a new two-year deal at the end of the 2014–15 season and a further extension a year later,[6] which kept him at the King Power Stadium until June 2019.[7]
Mansfield Town (loan)
On 8 January 2015, Elder was loaned out to League Two club Mansfield Town for one month.[8] He made his professional debut two days later, starting in a 2–1 away loss against Burton Albion.[9] He became a regular starter, which saw his loan extended to the end of the 2014–15 season.[10][11] Elder made 21 appearances for the Stags and returned to Leicester at the end of the season.[12]
Peterborough United (loan)
On 29 August 2015, Elder joined League One side Peterborough United on a one-month loan,[13] which was later extended until January 2016.[14] He made 21 appearances and scored the first senior goal of his career, which came in a 4–0 thrashing of Doncaster Rovers on 24 October 2015.[15] A foot injury suffered in a match versus Blackpool on 19 December led to the early termination of Elder's loan.[16]
Brentford (loan)
On 30 July 2016, Elder joined Championship side Brentford on loan for the duration of the 2016–17 season.[17] He was an ever-present in league matches during the opening month of the season,[18] before suffering a knee injury during a 2–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on 10 September 2016.[19] Elder's recovery was delayed by a thigh injury and he returned to the King Power Stadium for treatment in mid-December 2016.[20][21] He returned to training with Brentford on 16 January 2017,[22] but failed to make an appearance before being recalled by Leicester City two weeks later.[23]
Barnsley (loan)
On 31 January 2017, Elder joined Championship club Barnsley on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[24]
Wigan Athletic (loan)
On 31 July 2017, Elder joined Wigan Athletic on a season long loan.[25] He made his debut on 5 August at Milton Keynes Dons but was sent off in the 44th minute. Wigan won the match 1–0.[26] He scored his first goal for Wigan on 17 January 2018 as they defeated Premier League side Bournemouth in the FA Cup.[27]
Ipswich Town (loan)
On 2 January 2019, Elder joined Ipswich Town on loan for the remainder of the 2018–19 Championship season.[28]
Hull City
On 8 August 2019, Elder joined Championship side Hull City for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract. The move reunited him with Grant McCann, his manager at Peterborough United.[29] Elder made his debut on 14 September 2019, in a 2–2 draw at home to Wigan Athletic.[30] He scored his first goal for Hull on 5 April 2021 in a 3–0 win against Northampton Town.[31]
On 18 May 2022, Hull City exercised an option for an additional year on his contract.[32]
On 6 May 2023, it was announced that Elder would leave Hull at the end of his contract that summer,[33] it was later announced he would join League One Derby County.
Derby County
On 21 June 2023, free agent Elder signed for Derby County on a three-year deal, becoming manager Paul Warne's 3rd summer signing.[34] The first half of his first season at Derby was frustrating for Elder he was affected by injuries and when fit was mainly restricted to being a substitute as Craig Forsyth was the main starting left-back.[35] Elder would make 26 appearances in this injury hit season, as Derby secured promotion to the Championship as league runners-up.[36]
After impressing in pre-season ahead of the 2024–25 season, Elder started in Derby's first six Championship fixtures at left-back before he sustained a groin injury at Sheffield United on 21 September 2024, with Derby head coach Paul Warne saying that injury was a "blow" as Elder had been in great form.[37]