UPDATE: Aston Villa is in urgent negotiations with Liverpool over the future of midfielder Harvey Elliott, just as his season hangs in the balance. The 22-year-old player has faced a troubling time at Villa Park, with contractual complexities and FIFA regulations putting his career on pause.
According to The Athletic, Villa initially hoped to rejuvenate Elliott’s season with a loan move, but the situation has spiraled into difficulty. The club has strategically limited Elliott’s appearances to avoid triggering a 10-game threshold that would obligate them to buy him from Liverpool, a financial commitment they aim to sidestep.
The loan agreement, lacking a recall clause from Liverpool, complicates matters further. Aston Villa could terminate the loan but would incur a fee, making a return to Liverpool anything but straightforward. Villa officials are now racing against time to strike a new agreement with Liverpool that allows Elliott to exit without facing hefty penalties.
“Elliott has maintained a professional attitude, but there is significant disappointment regarding the playing time promised to him,” sources close to the situation report.
With the January transfer window looming, Elliott’s potential return to Anfield raises further complications. He has already represented Liverpool this season, and under FIFA rules, a player cannot join a third club within the same campaign. This effectively rules out a loan to another Premier League or European side until the summer.
If Elliott returns to Liverpool, he may find himself on the fringes of the squad unless he can secure a move to a league with a different calendar, such as the Major League Soccer or Saudi Pro League.
This predicament comes after a stalling season for Elliott, who was once a key player under Jurgen Klopp. Despite making 28 appearances last term, he only started six games, with his total playing time plummeting to 822 minutes—a stark contrast to over 2,700 minutes the previous year.
The competition for the ‘No 10’ role at Liverpool has left Elliott in a challenging position, and his loan to Aston Villa was intended as a pathway to greater playing time ahead of the 2026 World Cup. As negotiations unfold, both clubs must balance financial implications with the urgent need for Elliott to find his footing again.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation as Aston Villa seeks a resolution that benefits both the club and the promising midfielder.
