Elijah Just heads into FIFA World Cup 2026 with strong club momentum and a secure place in the New Zealand squad. Motherwell gave him a bigger European platform, and his output in Scotland pushed him into the final tournament group. This article covers Elijah Just’s age, club status, stats, salary estimate, and international record.
Quick Answer
Elijah Just is a New Zealand winger who plays for Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership. New Zealand Football listed him as Eli Just with 42 caps and nine goals in the final World Cup 2026 squad release. His first season in Scotland also turned into the most productive top-flight year of his club career.
Elijah Just Personal Info and Career Details
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Elijah Henry Just |
| Date of birth | 1 May 2000 |
| Age | 26 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Height | 174 cm / 1.74 m |
| Weight | yet to be confirmed |
| Position | Winger / attacking midfielder |
| Preferred foot | Left |
| Current club | Motherwell FC |
| Jersey number | 21 |
| Weekly salary | About £2,300 per week from public wage trackers |
| Estimated net worth | Will be updated soon |
Early Life and Background
Just was born in Palmerston North and developed through the Olé Academy pathway in Wellington. He broke through with Western Suburbs, where his speed and direct running stood out early. That base gave him a stronger technical platform before he moved abroad.
His youth years also mattered because he learned in teams that asked attackers to play on the front foot. Western Suburbs and Eastern Suburbs both gave him senior minutes before he turned 20. Those games built the confidence that later carried him into Denmark and beyond.
Birthplace, family, and youth football journey
New Zealand age-group football also shaped his rise. He represented the country at Under-17 and Under-20 level before making the senior step in 2019. By then, he had already shown enough pace and goal threat to attract overseas interest.
Transfer News and Market Value
Just joined Motherwell in July 2025 after his loan spell with SKN St. Pölten and his longer period on the books at AC Horsens. Motherwell handed him a deal through May 2027 with a club option for one more year. The move gave him a higher-profile league and a cleaner route into New Zealand’s final World Cup plans.
Public market trackers now place him around the mid-six-figure range. Transfermarkt listed Just at €450,000 in its latest visible update, which fits a 26-year-old winger coming off a strong Scottish season. His next valuation will depend on whether he turns league form into World Cup exposure.
Elijah Just Salary and Net Worth
Public wage trackers place Just at about £2,300 per week at Motherwell, which works out to roughly £119,600 per year. That figure is an estimate rather than a club-published salary, so it should be treated with care.
No verified public source confirms his personal net worth. He has built a solid European career, yet audited figures are not public. His net worth will be updated soon.
Elijah Just Club Career
Just has taken a steady route through New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, and now Scotland. He did not jump from youth football straight into a major league. Instead, he added stages that improved his decision-making, end product, and tactical range.
Early clubs and development
Western Suburbs and Eastern Suburbs gave him the first senior platform in New Zealand. He then moved to FC Helsingør in 2019 and learned the demands of full-time European football. AC Horsens followed in 2022, while the 2024-25 loan to SKN St. Pölten helped him sharpen his output closer to goal.
That Austrian loan was important because it pushed his numbers back up. Opta’s career record shows 19 league appearances, six goals, and two assists with St. Pölten in 2024-25. Those figures set up the move to Motherwell.
Current club and recent form
Motherwell became the biggest recent step in his career. The club profile says he has already played 42 matches and scored seven goals across all competitions, while Opta credits him with 32 league appearances, seven goals, and seven assists in 2025-26. That is a serious return for a winger adapting to a new league.
The club also highlighted his impact before the season ended. Motherwell said he became their first permanent player since 1994 to reach a World Cup with his country. He earned that status through production rather than hype.
Elijah Just Stats and Performance
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | SKN St. Pölten (loan) | 19 | 6 | 2 |
| 2025-26 | Motherwell FC | 32 | 7 | 7 |
International Career
Just is no longer only a depth winger for New Zealand. The final World Cup 2026 squad release lists him on 42 caps and nine goals, which places him among the more productive attackers in the current group. His goals have come in qualifiers, friendlies, and regional competition.
He also carries tournament experience from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic squad and the 2024 OFC Nations Cup winners. That matters around players such as Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, and Ben Old, because New Zealand need wide threats who already understand pressure matches.
Caps, goals, and major tournaments
Just gives the national team more than width. He can score from wide starts, carry through transition, and attack the far post when the striker drags defenders away. Those qualities make him one of New Zealand’s more dangerous secondary scorers.
| National team | Caps | Goals | Tournament involvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 42 | 9 | Tokyo 2020 Olympics, OFC Nations Cup 2024, World Cup 2026 squad |
Honours and Trophies
| Honour | Team | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Central League | Western Suburbs | 2017 |
| New Zealand Football Championship | Eastern Suburbs | 2018-19 |
| OFC Nations Cup | New Zealand | 2024 |
Playing Style and Key Strengths
Just is a left-footed winger who can start on the right and cut inside or attack from the left. He likes to receive on the move, isolate a full-back, and then attack the space behind the line. His stronger final ball in 2025-26 made him far more complete.
He also adapts well to different roles. Motherwell have used him in wider and more central attacking zones, and New Zealand can do the same when they want another runner around Chris Wood or Kosta Barbarouses. That flexibility raises his tournament value.
Position, role, and standout qualities
Wide forward roles remain his best fit, especially when he can attack the inside channel. He combines pace with cleaner movement around the box than before. His standout quality is that he can both stretch a defence and finish the move himself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elijah Just is 26 years old. He was born on May 1, 2000 in Palmerston North.
Elijah Just plays for Motherwell FC in Scotland. He joined the club in July 2025 and signed through May 2027, with a club option for another year.
Yes. New Zealand named him in the final 26-man World Cup squad on May 14, 2026, and the official list recorded him as Eli Just with 42 caps and nine goals.
Elijah Just is a left-footed winger who can play on either flank or inside as an attacking midfielder. He attacks space well, carries the ball at speed, and now adds stronger final-third numbers.
Public wage trackers estimate Elijah Just at about £2,300 per week at Motherwell. His net worth will be updated soon because no verified public figure is available.
Conclusion
Elijah Just reaches World Cup 2026 with real momentum behind him. Motherwell gave him a level and a stage that brought the best club season of his career.
That makes him an important attacking piece for New Zealand. He is now more than a runner out wide, because he arrives with goals, assists, and sharper decision-making.