Harvey Elliott hasn't played for Aston Villa since October, and he will seemingly have to leave the Premier League this month if he wants to play again before the off-season
22:49, 22 Jan 2026
Harvey Elliott hasn't played for Aston Villa since October
Harvey Elliott hasn't played for Aston Villa since October(Image: AFP or licensors)
Charlotte FC manager Dean Smith has confirmed he would be interested in Harvey Elliott joining up with him in Major League Soccer.
Elliott, who is on loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool, finds himself in limbo having being frozen out of the Villa team by boss Unai Emery.
Elliott finds himself in a tough spot, as FIFA rules stipulate that a player cannot appear for more than two clubs in a season, unless the third club plays in a league which starts and finishes at a different time of the year to the league or leagues that the first two clubs compete in.
One possible solution is for Elliott to move to MLS in the United States, which runs from February to October each year — unlike most European leagues, which tend to run from August until May.
READ MORE: Liverpool has different 'version of events' to explain Marc Guehi transfer decisionREAD MORE: Jamie Carragher had to 'rein in' Alvaro Arbeloa in dig at new Real Madrid boss
Charlotte FC boss Smith, who used to manage Aston Villa, has now revealed where he stands on Elliott potentially joining his current club.
"I put the feelers out when I was over there [in the UK]," Smith said. "I was thinking about it and thought there is an opportunity there. If he's not going to play for Villa and he can't play anywhere else, then it would be an option for him to come and play some games before the World Cup break.
"If he's not playing between now and the World Cup, it's a shame. There is an opportunity for him to come and play out here if that's what Villa and Liverpool want him to do."
Elliott joined Villa on a season-long loan during last summer's transfer window, with the deal including a conditional obligation for Villa to sign the player permanently in 2026.
That condition is that Elliott must appear 10 times for Villa, but he has only made five appearances for the Midlands club – the last of which came on Oct. 2.
Villa boss Emery confirmed earlier this month that he wasn't using Elliott because he did not want to trigger the buy option in the 22-year-old's loan deal.
“I am respecting him all we can because he’s a very good professional, very respectful – but the situation we have is something," Emery said. “I must take a decision but not damage the person. Because he’s a very good person and player and deserves the best.
"The problem we have with Harvey is this year he is on loan and in case he is playing matches, we must buy him. We decided two months ago we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need.
Article continues below
“This is the issue. But he is training every day, very good with us to help us in training and of course it is not good for him or good for us, but it is football and sometimes we must take decisions that are not good for us."