Elder statesman from Germany with zero cash abroad (5)

I believe the answer is:

doyen

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'elder statesman' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'germany with zero cash abroad' is the wordplay.
'germany' becomes 'd' (vehicle registration code for Deutschland).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'zero' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'cash abroad' becomes 'yen' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'd'+'o'+'yen'='DOYEN'

'from' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for doyen that I've seen before include "Dean of an academy" , "respected figure" , "Top expert in a field" , "Group's senior member" , "The most respected among experts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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