 In the 2001 off-season, Elá signed for Southampton in England, penning a three-year contract after turning down Coventry City.During his spell he never appeared officially with the Premier League side, being limited to reserve team football; additionally, in the 2001–02 season, he suffered a serious knee injury.In 2002, Elá was loaned to Hércules CF in the Spanish third level, under former Sporting de Gijón and CD Tenerife player Felipe Miñambres.