Image Credits: Imago Images
Harvey Elliott continues to endure a torrid time at Aston Villa this season.
When the 22-year-old midfielder arrived at Villa Park on deadline day in September 2025, it appeared to be the perfect career move. Villa’s aims were to fight for Champions League qualification, Elliott would get girst-team minutes, and a £35 million permanent transfer seemed a mere formality after he reached 10 Premier League appearances.
Fast forward five months, and Elliott has managed just 97 minutes of Premier League football across only four appearances, with his sole start ending in humiliation when he was hauled off at halftime during a 3-1 victory over Fulham. His last appearance for Villa came as an 89th-minute substitute against Feyenoord in the Europa League on October 2—over three months ago.
The true extent of Elliott’s nightmare became public on January 2, when Villa manager Unai Emery delivered a devastating assessment of the midfielder’s future. In a remarkably candid press conference, the Spanish tactician confirmed that Villa had decided two months earlier not to pursue Elliott’s permanent signing.
“The problem we have with Harvey is this year he is on loan, and in case he is playing matches, we must buy him,” Emery explained. “We decided two months ago we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need.”
The implication was clear: Villa have been deliberately avoiding selecting Elliott to prevent triggering the mandatory £35 million purchase clause that activates upon his 10th Premier League appearance.
However, John McGinn’s knee injury sustained against Everton on Sunday may have thrown the Liverpool loanee an unexpected lifeline. The Scottish international is expected to be sidelined until at least late February, adding to a depleted midfield that is already missing Boubacar Kamara (knee injury, potentially long-term), Amadou Onana (hamstring), and Ross Barkley (knee).
With Villa’s midfield reduced to Youri Tielemans and Lamar Bogarde as their primary central options, Elliott suddenly represents one of the few remaining fit midfielders at Emery’s disposal. While Villa have been linked with moves for Conor Gallagher and Tammy Abraham this transfer window, time is running out to secure reinforcements before the deadline.
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